How are Prime Ministers chosen around the world? With pressure mounting on Boris Johnson, it’s looking increasingly possible that Britain could well soon have a new Prime Minister. Who it would be, would be a decision for Conservative MPs and, possibly, Conservative party... Posted 19 Jan 2022
Not what it says on the tin: 8 political parties that could do with a name change There are some parties you come across where there is a total disconnect between the name and the party. Names that are so counter-intuitive or perplexing that you can only wonder why they haven’t changed... Posted 10 Jan 2022
How are Presidents elected around Europe? 2022 is a big year for presidential elections in Europe – with the Italian, German and French presidencies all open over the next few months. Posted 05 Jan 2022
As Portugal heads to the polls – how do Portuguese elections work? Portugal is holding a snap election at the end of the month after parliament rejected the budget proposed by António Costa’s government last autumn. Posted 04 Jan 2022
What is the ideal number of MPs per constituency in proportional representation? When choosing a proportional voting system, one of the most important decisions is the number of MPs each constituency elects – its ‘district magnitude. Posted 26 Nov 2021
Germany’s 2021 election: How Germans vote This Sunday (26th March), Germany goes to the polls to elect its national parliament – the Bundestag. With Angela Merkel stepping down as Chancellor after 16 years, this election will cause only the fifth change... Posted 23 Sep 2021
First Past the Post has failed to give the most popular Canadian party the most seats Minority government on 32% of the vote is one thing, but it is another when it isn’t even the most popular minority that gets to be in charge. Posted 22 Sep 2021
How do elections work in Norway? Like most European countries, Norway first adopted proportional representation in the early 20th century, with this October representing 100 years since Norwegians elected their first proportional parliament. Posted 09 Sep 2021
Barriers to entry: How do electoral thresholds work? A common feature of many Party List PR systems is an electoral threshold – a pre-set bar that parties have to reach if they want to win seats. Posted 03 Sep 2021
Political football: Italy’s party problems go beyond its voting system In this guest post, Dylan Difford takes a look at Italy’s political system ahead of Sunday’s showdown. While PR-elected governments are the norm in the democratic world – and often more stable than First Past... Posted 09 Jul 2021