Could a coalition government not include the plurality party?












2














Back during the German elections, I remember a bunch of parties saying they would be unwilling to form a coalition with AfD. That made me wonder--what if AfD had won the most votes without getting a majority, but no party was willing to form a coalition with them? Could some number of the minority parties that would add up to a majority form a coalition despite none of them getting a plurality of seats? Similarly, such a scenario could happen in the UK right now, though it would require an unlikely (?) coalition of everyone against the conservatives.










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  • I sense that the answer is generally yes, but the details are surely different from a country to another. Is your question a general one or targeting UK?
    – Alexei
    Dec 16 at 20:00










  • @Alexei It's more of a general one.
    – eyeballfrog
    Dec 16 at 20:03










  • "...despite none of them getting a plurality of seats?" Where is the problem with that as long as the coalition has a majority of seats? Or the other way around, why must a coalition include the largest party? The question should motivate more the actual problem, if there is one, or is this just asking for a clarification? If so, then yes, it's possible.
    – Trilarion
    Dec 17 at 12:51










  • @Trilarion It seemed quite possible that the coalition could be required by (possibly unwritten) parliamentary rules to include the plurality party. Judging by the answers, this is not the case.
    – eyeballfrog
    Dec 17 at 14:16
















2














Back during the German elections, I remember a bunch of parties saying they would be unwilling to form a coalition with AfD. That made me wonder--what if AfD had won the most votes without getting a majority, but no party was willing to form a coalition with them? Could some number of the minority parties that would add up to a majority form a coalition despite none of them getting a plurality of seats? Similarly, such a scenario could happen in the UK right now, though it would require an unlikely (?) coalition of everyone against the conservatives.










share|improve this question









New contributor




eyeballfrog is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • I sense that the answer is generally yes, but the details are surely different from a country to another. Is your question a general one or targeting UK?
    – Alexei
    Dec 16 at 20:00










  • @Alexei It's more of a general one.
    – eyeballfrog
    Dec 16 at 20:03










  • "...despite none of them getting a plurality of seats?" Where is the problem with that as long as the coalition has a majority of seats? Or the other way around, why must a coalition include the largest party? The question should motivate more the actual problem, if there is one, or is this just asking for a clarification? If so, then yes, it's possible.
    – Trilarion
    Dec 17 at 12:51










  • @Trilarion It seemed quite possible that the coalition could be required by (possibly unwritten) parliamentary rules to include the plurality party. Judging by the answers, this is not the case.
    – eyeballfrog
    Dec 17 at 14:16














2












2








2







Back during the German elections, I remember a bunch of parties saying they would be unwilling to form a coalition with AfD. That made me wonder--what if AfD had won the most votes without getting a majority, but no party was willing to form a coalition with them? Could some number of the minority parties that would add up to a majority form a coalition despite none of them getting a plurality of seats? Similarly, such a scenario could happen in the UK right now, though it would require an unlikely (?) coalition of everyone against the conservatives.










share|improve this question









New contributor




eyeballfrog is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











Back during the German elections, I remember a bunch of parties saying they would be unwilling to form a coalition with AfD. That made me wonder--what if AfD had won the most votes without getting a majority, but no party was willing to form a coalition with them? Could some number of the minority parties that would add up to a majority form a coalition despite none of them getting a plurality of seats? Similarly, such a scenario could happen in the UK right now, though it would require an unlikely (?) coalition of everyone against the conservatives.







parliament majority






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edited Dec 16 at 20:04









Alexei

15k1784161




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asked Dec 16 at 19:53









eyeballfrog

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  • I sense that the answer is generally yes, but the details are surely different from a country to another. Is your question a general one or targeting UK?
    – Alexei
    Dec 16 at 20:00










  • @Alexei It's more of a general one.
    – eyeballfrog
    Dec 16 at 20:03










  • "...despite none of them getting a plurality of seats?" Where is the problem with that as long as the coalition has a majority of seats? Or the other way around, why must a coalition include the largest party? The question should motivate more the actual problem, if there is one, or is this just asking for a clarification? If so, then yes, it's possible.
    – Trilarion
    Dec 17 at 12:51










  • @Trilarion It seemed quite possible that the coalition could be required by (possibly unwritten) parliamentary rules to include the plurality party. Judging by the answers, this is not the case.
    – eyeballfrog
    Dec 17 at 14:16


















  • I sense that the answer is generally yes, but the details are surely different from a country to another. Is your question a general one or targeting UK?
    – Alexei
    Dec 16 at 20:00










  • @Alexei It's more of a general one.
    – eyeballfrog
    Dec 16 at 20:03










  • "...despite none of them getting a plurality of seats?" Where is the problem with that as long as the coalition has a majority of seats? Or the other way around, why must a coalition include the largest party? The question should motivate more the actual problem, if there is one, or is this just asking for a clarification? If so, then yes, it's possible.
    – Trilarion
    Dec 17 at 12:51










  • @Trilarion It seemed quite possible that the coalition could be required by (possibly unwritten) parliamentary rules to include the plurality party. Judging by the answers, this is not the case.
    – eyeballfrog
    Dec 17 at 14:16
















I sense that the answer is generally yes, but the details are surely different from a country to another. Is your question a general one or targeting UK?
– Alexei
Dec 16 at 20:00




I sense that the answer is generally yes, but the details are surely different from a country to another. Is your question a general one or targeting UK?
– Alexei
Dec 16 at 20:00












@Alexei It's more of a general one.
– eyeballfrog
Dec 16 at 20:03




@Alexei It's more of a general one.
– eyeballfrog
Dec 16 at 20:03












"...despite none of them getting a plurality of seats?" Where is the problem with that as long as the coalition has a majority of seats? Or the other way around, why must a coalition include the largest party? The question should motivate more the actual problem, if there is one, or is this just asking for a clarification? If so, then yes, it's possible.
– Trilarion
Dec 17 at 12:51




"...despite none of them getting a plurality of seats?" Where is the problem with that as long as the coalition has a majority of seats? Or the other way around, why must a coalition include the largest party? The question should motivate more the actual problem, if there is one, or is this just asking for a clarification? If so, then yes, it's possible.
– Trilarion
Dec 17 at 12:51












@Trilarion It seemed quite possible that the coalition could be required by (possibly unwritten) parliamentary rules to include the plurality party. Judging by the answers, this is not the case.
– eyeballfrog
Dec 17 at 14:16




@Trilarion It seemed quite possible that the coalition could be required by (possibly unwritten) parliamentary rules to include the plurality party. Judging by the answers, this is not the case.
– eyeballfrog
Dec 17 at 14:16










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















7














Yes.



The general requirement for a government in a parliamentary system is that they can win motions of confidence. Even if one party holds a plurality in parliament, if it cannot win a motion of confidence it cannot form a government. Contrariwise, if two or more minority parties agree to work together, they can form a majority in parliament that will win a confidence motion.



However, coalitions that form only in opposition to a third force tend to be unstable and may not be able to agree on a legislative program or consistent economic strategy.



By way of example, in Spain, the current government is lead by the PSOE and their allies. But the People's Party hold a plurality (but not a majority) in parliament. The PP lost power following a confidence vote earlier this year.



In the particular case of the UK, following a general election, the largest party would normally be allowed to make the initial attempt to form a government, and a coalition (or minority government) of minority parties would be considered only after the party with the plurality had failed.



After a no-confidence vote in the PM in parliament, there would then be 14 days for the various other parties to attempt to form a government before a general election is called.






share|improve this answer































    4














    Quite simply yes… and it actually happened in Germany before, between 1969 and 1972 (first Brandt cabinet) and between 1976 and 1982 (second and third Schmidt cabinets). In both cases, the CDU/CSU was still the largest group in parliament but it did not have an outright majority without the FDP, which chose to form a coalition with the SPD instead.






    share|improve this answer





























      1














      This happened recently in New Zealand: the plurality party is out of power, because the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th largest parties formed a coalition government.






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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes








        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        7














        Yes.



        The general requirement for a government in a parliamentary system is that they can win motions of confidence. Even if one party holds a plurality in parliament, if it cannot win a motion of confidence it cannot form a government. Contrariwise, if two or more minority parties agree to work together, they can form a majority in parliament that will win a confidence motion.



        However, coalitions that form only in opposition to a third force tend to be unstable and may not be able to agree on a legislative program or consistent economic strategy.



        By way of example, in Spain, the current government is lead by the PSOE and their allies. But the People's Party hold a plurality (but not a majority) in parliament. The PP lost power following a confidence vote earlier this year.



        In the particular case of the UK, following a general election, the largest party would normally be allowed to make the initial attempt to form a government, and a coalition (or minority government) of minority parties would be considered only after the party with the plurality had failed.



        After a no-confidence vote in the PM in parliament, there would then be 14 days for the various other parties to attempt to form a government before a general election is called.






        share|improve this answer




























          7














          Yes.



          The general requirement for a government in a parliamentary system is that they can win motions of confidence. Even if one party holds a plurality in parliament, if it cannot win a motion of confidence it cannot form a government. Contrariwise, if two or more minority parties agree to work together, they can form a majority in parliament that will win a confidence motion.



          However, coalitions that form only in opposition to a third force tend to be unstable and may not be able to agree on a legislative program or consistent economic strategy.



          By way of example, in Spain, the current government is lead by the PSOE and their allies. But the People's Party hold a plurality (but not a majority) in parliament. The PP lost power following a confidence vote earlier this year.



          In the particular case of the UK, following a general election, the largest party would normally be allowed to make the initial attempt to form a government, and a coalition (or minority government) of minority parties would be considered only after the party with the plurality had failed.



          After a no-confidence vote in the PM in parliament, there would then be 14 days for the various other parties to attempt to form a government before a general election is called.






          share|improve this answer


























            7












            7








            7






            Yes.



            The general requirement for a government in a parliamentary system is that they can win motions of confidence. Even if one party holds a plurality in parliament, if it cannot win a motion of confidence it cannot form a government. Contrariwise, if two or more minority parties agree to work together, they can form a majority in parliament that will win a confidence motion.



            However, coalitions that form only in opposition to a third force tend to be unstable and may not be able to agree on a legislative program or consistent economic strategy.



            By way of example, in Spain, the current government is lead by the PSOE and their allies. But the People's Party hold a plurality (but not a majority) in parliament. The PP lost power following a confidence vote earlier this year.



            In the particular case of the UK, following a general election, the largest party would normally be allowed to make the initial attempt to form a government, and a coalition (or minority government) of minority parties would be considered only after the party with the plurality had failed.



            After a no-confidence vote in the PM in parliament, there would then be 14 days for the various other parties to attempt to form a government before a general election is called.






            share|improve this answer














            Yes.



            The general requirement for a government in a parliamentary system is that they can win motions of confidence. Even if one party holds a plurality in parliament, if it cannot win a motion of confidence it cannot form a government. Contrariwise, if two or more minority parties agree to work together, they can form a majority in parliament that will win a confidence motion.



            However, coalitions that form only in opposition to a third force tend to be unstable and may not be able to agree on a legislative program or consistent economic strategy.



            By way of example, in Spain, the current government is lead by the PSOE and their allies. But the People's Party hold a plurality (but not a majority) in parliament. The PP lost power following a confidence vote earlier this year.



            In the particular case of the UK, following a general election, the largest party would normally be allowed to make the initial attempt to form a government, and a coalition (or minority government) of minority parties would be considered only after the party with the plurality had failed.



            After a no-confidence vote in the PM in parliament, there would then be 14 days for the various other parties to attempt to form a government before a general election is called.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Dec 16 at 21:39

























            answered Dec 16 at 20:55









            James K

            33.5k8101142




            33.5k8101142























                4














                Quite simply yes… and it actually happened in Germany before, between 1969 and 1972 (first Brandt cabinet) and between 1976 and 1982 (second and third Schmidt cabinets). In both cases, the CDU/CSU was still the largest group in parliament but it did not have an outright majority without the FDP, which chose to form a coalition with the SPD instead.






                share|improve this answer


























                  4














                  Quite simply yes… and it actually happened in Germany before, between 1969 and 1972 (first Brandt cabinet) and between 1976 and 1982 (second and third Schmidt cabinets). In both cases, the CDU/CSU was still the largest group in parliament but it did not have an outright majority without the FDP, which chose to form a coalition with the SPD instead.






                  share|improve this answer
























                    4












                    4








                    4






                    Quite simply yes… and it actually happened in Germany before, between 1969 and 1972 (first Brandt cabinet) and between 1976 and 1982 (second and third Schmidt cabinets). In both cases, the CDU/CSU was still the largest group in parliament but it did not have an outright majority without the FDP, which chose to form a coalition with the SPD instead.






                    share|improve this answer












                    Quite simply yes… and it actually happened in Germany before, between 1969 and 1972 (first Brandt cabinet) and between 1976 and 1982 (second and third Schmidt cabinets). In both cases, the CDU/CSU was still the largest group in parliament but it did not have an outright majority without the FDP, which chose to form a coalition with the SPD instead.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Dec 16 at 22:29









                    Relaxed

                    16.4k3558




                    16.4k3558























                        1














                        This happened recently in New Zealand: the plurality party is out of power, because the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th largest parties formed a coalition government.






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                        Tony Kelly is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                          1














                          This happened recently in New Zealand: the plurality party is out of power, because the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th largest parties formed a coalition government.






                          share|improve this answer








                          New contributor




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                            1












                            1








                            1






                            This happened recently in New Zealand: the plurality party is out of power, because the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th largest parties formed a coalition government.






                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




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                            This happened recently in New Zealand: the plurality party is out of power, because the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th largest parties formed a coalition government.







                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




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                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer






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                            answered Dec 17 at 1:07









                            Tony Kelly

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                            111




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