The 2021 municipal elections highlighted the difficulty with coalitions in South African politics.
The lack of a party that voters can identify with, has been highlighted by the election results. But how do we solve the instability and “unworkability” of coalition government? A Wits lecturer dealt with the practical problems posed by coalition politics in SA. You can read it here. And here is an article on Coalition municipalities don’t perform very well.
South African politicians do not have the maturity to make coalitions work. The power hunger of politicians derails coalitions, and the power in a coalition lies with the “kingmaker” party who holds the balance of power. If one party withdraws, the coalition collapses. Collapsing coalitions are the result of political opportunism, not what is best for the citizens.
So what do we do to solve the shortcomings of coalition governments?
The way I see it, the basis for the non-workability of coalition governments are:
- Political parties are built around a person or leader.
- Politicians want power
- Leaders are not continuously evaluated on their performance.
- The good of the citizens is of little or no importance to the rulers.
- The citizens only get to call the politicians to answer every five years at an election.
- Party interests are more important than citizen interests.
If these are the shortcomings of the system, we should look at removing the shortcomings, so we can start building a workable system.
Note that the removal of a system does not create a new system, it only creates a vacuum in which a new system can be built.
What if we approach the problem of coalition failure from an unexpected angle?
- What if we remove the photos of party leaders from political material. Substitute that with images or text of what the party promises. Preferably all election material must include an objectively measurable promise. (See the poster below for the “better life for all”). Is “a better life for all” measurable?
- What if we remove politicians’ power? It will make them public servants rather than government officials.
- What if we have a system where politicians are continuously evaluated? Technology make this possible.
- What if we devise a system that makes the interests of the citizens the priority? Take away the politicians’ power and put power in the hands of the citizens.
- What if we couple the continuous evaluation of politicians with elections? Technology and proper defining of service delivery make that possible.
- Make citizen interests more important than party interests.
One problem with this poster is that it is under the name of the party leader, so when the leader is removed, the successors reject the promise.
So, how do we solve the problem of coalitions in SA politics?
What if the citizens take power back from politicians and force them to work together?
The tools are available to take power back in a legitimate way.
What would the result be if we create a political system that forces the parties into a coalition and forces them to work together?
We can force politicians to work effectively in a coalition:
The electoral law (preferably the constitution) must contain a clause that says that all the parties that are needed to constitute a majority, must act as a local government. They have representation according to the percentages they are entitled to based on the election results.
So far so good. But how do we force them to work together?
If there is one thing that scares a politician, it is accountability. Therefore, an effective system must include accountability. That is why they don’t like elections. It is the only time that they can be held accountable by the supporters.
What if we have a law that says when the coalition fails, all elected members of the municipality lose their seats, and an election must be held. This is the proviso:
All representatives who are forced to resign because they can not work together, are not allowed to stand for an election in that electoral area for the next 2 years.
I can hear the objections: this will create instability, it means we might have elections every two months, it is a waste of money and people’s time, blah, blah, blah.
So how is your coalition doing if it fails every time the majority does not do what the kingmaker wants, and the kingmaker withdraws?
It is quite possible to have elections every month by just using cell phone technology. It will not jeopardize the democratic process or give rise to misuse. The democratic system is not sacrosanct anymore.
I expect we will not have to hold elections every month, or year, due to the rule that all failing representatives will lose their posts for 2 years, and others will take over.
The way in which to solve politics is to give power to the people, and to force elected officials to deliver to the advantage of the citizens.
Thoughts on how a new system could be implemented
- Use technology to make elections seamless and affordable – cellphone technology.
- Think uncoventional and do not be led by what worked in the past – democracy has become easily manipulable.
- Identify what is served by a political system – infrastructure that affects the citizen’s quality of life.
- Identify ways of forcing present representatives to support a new system – existing representatives will oppose it because it endangers their income, and their political lives will become difficult because of the focus on accountablility.
- Consider a citizen’s referendum about a new system – should contain supporting argument/evidence applicable to all sections of society.
- Identify the legal routes available to get parliament to vote for the result of a referendum on a new system.
This is a work in progress.
