Part of the Politics series |
Politics |
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This is a list of political groups by country. A political group, also known as a political alliance, coalition or bloc, is cooperation by members of different political parties on a common agenda. This usually involves formal agreements between two or more entire parties. A political group is usually especially beneficial to the parties concerned during and immediately after elections – due to characteristics of the electoral systems concerned (e.g. allowing each party to clear electoral thresholds) and/or allowing parties to participate in the formation of a government after elections. These may break up quickly or hold together for decades, becoming the de facto norm, operating almost as a single unit. Political groups may also form prior to elections to reduce uncertainty following the election.[1]
Coalition governments are formed when a political group comes to power or when only a plurality (not a majority) has been reached, and several parties must work together to govern. One of the peculiarities of such a method of governance results in a minister without portfolio.