Audrey Young has done a column looking at what a grand coalition between National and Labour could look like. Grand coalitions always sound good in theory – the two centrist parties working together in the country’s interest, shutting out the parties on the margins.
But what his overlooks is governments always become unpopular over time. And if the government consists of the two main parties, then the disgruntled will go to the parties further out, eventually propelling them to power.
In Germany the two main parties are now polling only 38% between them.
In Austria they are also at 38%, Netherlands 40%, Ireland 34%. They all had grand coalitions.
So a grand coalition is a great way to destroy the two main parties, and boost the other parties.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders
In Austria they are also at 38%, Netherlands 40%, Ireland 34%. They all had grand coalitions.
So a grand coalition is a great way to destroy the two main parties, and boost the other parties.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders
4 comments:
Very little discussions on how "the people" fit into this scenario. No doubt Labour supporters don't want a National government and National voters don't want a Labour government. That's why they vote as they do. As long as the parties make their intentions clear before the election and don't use the excuse of producing"stability" if the election results produce a cloudy outcome.
I personally think it would be chaotic and totally undemocratic, sidelining thousands of voters.
Thanks David, once again the facts trump the hype.
What a great idea. Get rid of the uni party.
As I've said before, a grand coalition would result in National becoming subsumed by Liebour and we'd really be in the pooh. However, in NZ this would result in Tribal rule where Liebour itself would succumb and the minor parties would have no way back to power. That is a bit different to the scenario above.
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