Let's steal us an election!! (2 Viewers)

[JCK]

Erik, what is the population of Holland and are there any political parties that cannot have a representation in the government elections?

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[Slagathor]

Population is currently around 16.5 million. What do you mean by "cannot"?

 

[JCK]

In Sweden there are seven political parties that can run for elections for the government, then there are some political parties that did not get enough representation in the previous elections so they are not eligible to run for government.

 

[Slagathor]

Oh well we don't have tresholds like that. Every political party can run for government, but of course the smallest ones won't nearly get as much TV coverage as the biggest 6 or so.

The only significant threshold we have is that you need sufficient support to found a political party. Which is why the pedophile party never took part in the elections: they couldn't nearly get enough signatures and members to qualify.

 

[Martin]

In Norway there's a very simple rule for this. It's called sperregrensen (ie. sperre = to block) and it's 4%. Any part that gets less than 4% doesn't get a seat in parliament. Ventre (ie. The Left) often hovers around this limit, so they are often under threat of 'relegation'.

 

[Slagathor]

So you could have empty seats?

 

[Martin]

So you could have empty seats?

I don't know actually, this sort of thing is taught in Social Studies, which was back in junior high, I don't remember too many details.

 

[JCK]

This spärregränsen is what I am talking about.

However the small parties (a famous example is the new Swedish Democrats who are known to be racists like nothing you can think of) will run for elections like the others in the Kommun but they cannot run for the government and they cannot even go into alliance with other parties.

If a small party gets 6%, four years later they will be placed on the spectrum and can run for governmental elections.

This year the Swedish Democrats (They chose this name because it is close to the Social Democrats who are very strong here) got around 4%. Luckily they will try once again in four years. I get surprised that they even get votes.

 

[Slagathor]

So the rule is designed to keep new parties out? If I found a party now and participate in the next elections: I could never become prime minister even if my party won with a landslide victory?

That's not very democratic...

 

[JCK]

Not to keep them out, to delay them to become in the government, they can have power over the regions though.

 

[Slagathor]

Well I'm sure that's a reasonable system for nations like Norway and Sweden but I can see that being a breeding ground for nepotism in Southern countries.

 

[Mr. Gol]

sperregrensen (ie. sperre = to block)

The Dutch word is 'kiesdrempel'. It's the minimum amount of support that you require to be registered for the elections.

I sort of agree with Erik that it's rather undemocratic to prevent new parties from climbing too fast. Surely enough can happen in four years to make newcombers gain enough support to be in the government.

 

[Geof]

In Belgium, you have to get 5000 signatures or something before you can create a list for the national parlament, or have something like 5 elected members.
Not too sure about the correct amount, but that's the basic idea.

And political parties get money from the state only if they had 5% in the latest national elections.
So falling under the 5% can be a huge blow.

 

[gray]

So the rule is designed to keep new parties out? If I found a party now and participate in the next elections: I could never become prime minister even if my party won with a landslide victory?

That's not very democratic...

I think there'd be more at stake to worry about than democracy if you became prime minister Erik

 

[Slagathor]

I think there'd be more at stake to worry about than democracy if you became prime minister Erik

It would be superawesomeland

 

[gray]

Have you ever thought about going into politics?

 

[Slagathor]

Of course not, I'm a political science student. We steer well clear from anything of the sort.

 

[gray]

Of course not, I'm a political science student. We steer well clear from anything of the sort.

Sorry, my sarcasm radar seems to be broken. A little help?

 

[Slagathor]

Same phenomenon that stops Health Inspectors from eating out.

Political Science students know what politics is really like. I have yet to meet someone on my education who's willing to go into politics.

 

[Martin]

I have yet to meet someone on my education who's willing to go into politics.

I have.