Israel 2009

[big bad fab]

The Israeli electoral system (but also greater and greater difficulties to have stable majorities in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovakia, Czech rep., Baltic states, etc.) makes the British first-past-the-vote system appear to be the best one in the world.

[big bad fab]

The Israeli electoral system (but also greater and greater difficulties to have stable majorities in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovakia, Czech rep., Baltic states, etc.) makes the British first-past-the-vote system appear to be the best one in the world.

You mean having a party with a large majority in parliament (55%) with 35% of the votes is the best. Sure, much better to avoid giving dissatisfied votes representation than having to deal with opposition. That is probably why turnout is sooo high in FPTP-systems (61% UK to 87% in DK, 77% in N & 78% in G).

PR is good in countries that are stable electorally, but not in those that are unstable.

It's more about respecting the rules of democracy. PR fx makes it possible in times of crisis to have a parliament that reflect public opinion. FPTP makes it very impossible for new political forces to break through.

Do you think
negotiations during months and months between political parties on things or names not chosen by election,
very short-term management because of instability and interim governments,
choice of the leader, not by people, but by some bigwigs in parties that may have even lose,..., as it occurred in Belgium, Slovakia, Baltic States, Israel, etc,
a guarantee for democracy and expression of the people's will ?

It's doubtful.
No electoral system is perfect, but, nowadays, the problem is more one of stability and long-term viewpoints and policies than one of expression of minorities and diversity of opinions.

Sure, what I say here is very general, not to be applied specifically to Israel, in a torn region, with war, problems of land, etc...