Electing an All-Party, Proportional, Power-Sharing Coalition, a Government of National Unity

Peter Emerson

doi:10.4236/ojps.2013.32009

Abstract

There are many instances when a group of people might want to choose a committee, a fixed number of individuals to undertake a particular collective function. At their AGM or annual conference, residents in a community group, shareholders of a limited company, members of a trades union, and those of a political party, may all want to elect an executive: one person to be chair, another secretary, a third treasurer, etc. All these posts require different talents and all the individual office bearers undertake necessary but separate functions for the successful operation of that committee. In like manner, a parliament may choose to elect a government of national unity (GNU). The only voting procedure so far devised by which a given electorate—those concerned at an AGM or members of parliament (MPs)—may elect, not only those whom they wish to be in cabinet, but also the ministerial posts in which each of those chosen will then serve, is the matrix vote. This paper describes 1) an experiment held at the Political Studies Association of Ireland (PSAI), undergraduate conference in Dublin on 23rd June 2012 inwhich participants, role playing as members of the Irish parliament, elected a GNU; and 2) the matrix vote methodology, such that others may also employ this voting system. An obvious instance would be for the election of an all-party power-sharing executive in a post-conflict zone.

Highlights

The matrix vote1 is a means by which any electorate may choose a fixed number of individuals, each of whom is to undertake a specific function, while all of whom are to co-operate for a common purpose
The question, is how to elect a GNU, an all-party coalition cabinet such that, in the election: 1) Every MP is eligible to aspire to office; 2) Every MP is able to cast their preferences, and on an equal basis; While in the outcome: 3) Individually, each minister is appointed to that department for which, in the consensus of parliament, he/she is most suited; and 4) Collectively, the chosen ministers represent the entire parliament in fair proportion to their party strengths
Many other countries have had similar calls: the UK had a GNU during the slump and again in WWII; some Belgians were asking for a GNU during their recent protracted paralysis on government formation—it eventually took them 541 days; Greece in its present fiscal difficulties has heard such suggestions, and so on

Summary

Introduction

The matrix vote is a means by which any electorate may choose a fixed number of individuals, each of whom is to undertake a specific function, while all of whom are to co-operate for a common purpose. Once the ten most popular candidates have been identified, the second count takes place, and this is based on the MBC sums, i.e., the number of A points each candidate has received for any one specific department These sums are considered, in descending order, allocating in turn each of the ten cabinet members to a specific ministry. Popular candidate, as measured in the QBS election; and if there is still a draw, priority is given to that ministerial post for which the MBC total was the greater This last item of data is shown in the bottom row of Table 5 only.

QBS Results

Findings

Conclusion