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French Parliamentary Elections: a look under the hood | 59 comments (59 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: Second-preference voting (4.00 / 2)
The main effect that I can see is to counteract the PS's "vote utile" propaganda; so, in 2007, the Green and Communist candidates would have done a lot better, and Royal correspondingly worse; but Royal would have gone through to the second round, because I can't see many electors from eliminated candidates going to Bayrou.

Likewise, the system would probably encourage the natural tendency of the mainstream right to run two candidates, since they wouldn't have to worry so much about being eliminated by the FN.

So it's all positive for the presidentials.

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II

by eurogreen on Tue May 8th, 2012 at 01:42:57 PM EST
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Re: Second-preference voting (none / 1)
But then it would have to be put in place despite Socialist Party reluctance.

It doesn't seem that the Green Party or the Radicals are in a position to make many demands of the PS, if they are dependent upon an electoral coalition with the PS for their representation in parliament.

So it would come down to whether the FDG is required to form a majority, and what price in electoral reform the FDG could extract.

MMP on whatever numbers on offer would seem to be the first best outcome for the FDG ~ any other electoral reform would be a consolation prize if MMP is out of reach.

Of all the electoral reforms ~ preferential voting, multi-member STV, MMP ~ while second preference wouldn't have as dramatic an impact, it also comes with the least likelihood of increasing FN representation, so long as the FN remains relatively second preference toxic. However, that likelihood would have been even lower before Sarkozy's efforts to woo the FN electorate.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Tue May 8th, 2012 at 04:15:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

French Parliamentary Elections: a look under the hood | 59 comments (59 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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