Coalition governments: How they are formed and how they impact you

While coalition governments have existed in South Africa since 1994, discussions of coalitions have become more prominent in recent years, with parties increasingly forging alliances to secure power.

But what are coalition governments and how do they come to be?

Caxton Local Media approached a few political experts to answer questions that South African voters may have about coalitions.

What is a coalition government and how does it form?

In simple terms, coalition governments form when no single political party wins enough seats in Parliament to constitute an outright majority after an election, explains Dr Heather Thuynsma, a senior lecturer in political sciences at the University of Pretoria.

The South African government explains on its official website, that elections always result in multiple parties being represented in Parliament, a provincial legislature, or a municipal council.

“When an election produces a ‘hung council’, the parties must explore options, find each other, and hopefully negotiate a partnership before the first meeting of the council, when office-bearers are elected. The same applies when a coalition collapses (for example, a motion of no confidence is passed in the mayor): A new partnership must be explored before the next meeting.”

According to Thuynsma, the number of partners in a coalition depends largely on the number of seats each party has won, and it can also lead to a variety of partnerships being formed – some with parties that are not necessarily ideologically aligned.

“Coalitions are usually managed according to an agreement that details the terms and conditions for the partnership that has been negotiated. Perhaps the most important component of a successful coalition is the communication that happens between the coalition parties – for instance, the parties have to be able to raise their concerns with their partners in a constructive manner. When internal communication breaks down, then the partnership is in jeopardy.”

Benefits of coalition governments

Despite recent negative experiences within some metro municipalities across the country, coalition partnerships do have several benefits, says Thuynsma.

“They represent a diverse number of perspectives, which makes for a more inclusive discussion around policies and other decisions required of an effective government.”

She says the partnering parties can also hold each other accountable for specific decisions and remind each other of their responsibility to their voters.

“Successful coalitions, those that are focused on serving the people, can also promote greater innovation in solving complex and often intractable problems.”

When coalitions turn sour

However, says Thuynsma, there are also disadvantages to coalition governments. Broad coalitions made up of many parties mean that there is a constant need to compromise on positions, which creates internal disagreements and instability, she explains.

“A similar instability has also been seen when parties focus on their individual stature and not the broader needs of the communities they purport to serve. Also, since they need to negotiate amongst themselves constantly, their decision-making and responsiveness to problems is often slower.”

She says coalitions have also been seen as encouraging collective responsibility, a concept that the ANC has used to counter non-delivery challenges.

Prof Amanda Gouws, a distinguished professor in political science at Stellenbosch University, agrees and says coalitions can lead to very unstable governments when coalition partners can’t work together and keep changing their minds on policy preferences.

“Some parties may just be very opportunistic and offer their support to the party with the highest percentage support, so that they can negotiate for leadership positions, like becoming deputy president.”

Coalitions are likely here to stay

When asked about the likelihood of South Africa seeing more coalition governments, the experts seem to agree that this type of government might be here to stay.

“The likelihood is very high if the ANC keeps losing support. We have too many small parties to get a new majority party. The opposition needs to be consolidated. This can happen if we put in a 2% threshold in the electoral system. This means that any party that gets below 2% of the vote, which is most parties, does not get any seats. Then the opposition will be forced to consolidate,” says Gouws.

Thuynsma says political parties need to be open to the possibility of seeing more coalition governments in future and learn how to manage them. “Especially on the provincial and local levels, where their decisions count more for voters.”