In the debate about proportional representation [PR], folks
often worry about the inability of fringe parties to govern if they
ever got into power. I would like to bring your
attention to a less obvious benefit of the system, which has played
out in Germany.
For a long time, the Green Party in West Germany hovered just
above the 5% minimum needed to qualify for seats in parliament
under their proportional representation system. They
never held power, even in coalition governments, but they had a
voice at the table and a visible presence in
government. As environmental issues began to take a
more central position in the eyes of the voters (a process due in
some part to the Green’s presence in parliament), the
Green vote climbed over 10%.
As the Green party gained in popularity, the mainstream parties
appreciated the shift in voter’s priorities and to
maintain their share of support, they adjusted their platforms
accordingly. Without ever governing (until recently as
junior partner in a coalition), the Green party helped shift the
political priorities of the country. Democracy can work
in more subtle ways than simply those in power
deciding.
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