THE ELECTORAL THRESHOLD IN THE ELECTORAL LEGISLATION IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE FORMER SFRY – ONE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AFTER THREE DECADES OF POLITICAL PLURALISM

Abstract

The topic of the exploration is the electoral thresholds in the electoral systems in the states created in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The paper does a comparative analysis of one of the most significant components and characteristics of the electoral systems in the South Slavic states. It should be noted that the proportional model without exception dominates in all countries of the former SFRY. The main idea in the application of the proportional electoral system is that the distribution of mandates should be in proportion to the election results. However, when applying this model in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, there are numerous variations. The differences are referred to the electoral formula, district magnitude, the types of ballots, and what this paper will be abstracted on – the electoral threshold. In the selected cases, it will be noted that there are differences between the electoral thresholds. Some of them are imposed for the single nationwide constituency, but there are also thresholds imposed at the district level, but also examples where there is no formal, but effective electoral threshold. As all the countries of the former Yugoslavia went through a process of democratic transition, the existence of an electoral threshold in most of them was intended to set a barrier to the entry of populist parties into the parliament and to test whether political parties are rooted in society and whether they reflect the interests of a certain layer of citizens. Keywords: electoral threshold, formal thresholds, effective or natural thresholds, proportional electoral model, the six states of the former Yugoslavia