Many are familiar with such a phrase as a coalition government, but not everyone knows what it is. In which countries it is created, what is its education connected with and what issues it solves - we will talk about all this in this article.
What is a coalition government
It is formed by several parties to obtain a majority in parliament under a multi-party system of government. The word "coalition" itself is translated as an association that does not impose any obligations on the party, except for those related to issues related to its direct creation. After the purpose of creation is achieved, it disintegrates.
Creating a coalition government is also possible in times of emergency, both economic and foreign policy. Often this happens during periods of hostilities, economic and political crises. Why is it created? For a broader reflection of public sentiment, a wider range of public opinions, a different vision are taken into accountsituation.
The formation of a coalition government can only be if there are several parties. It may include members of at least two of the most representative or all parliamentary parties, in which case they are usually called "Governments of National Unity", or selectively large parties create a "Grand Coalition".
Good and bad examples of coalition work
Coalition cabinets are not always created at difficult times for the country. An example of this is Germany, where for 16 years the coalition government, drawn up on the basis of an agreement between the CSU-CDU bloc (Christian Socialist Union - Christian Democratic Union) with the Free Democratic Party, successfully worked. Until now, the CSU-CDU coalition with the Social Democrats under the leadership of A. Merkel has been successfully operating.
The fact that a coalition government has been formed gives rise to a lot of speculation and a certain distrust, since the deal between the party leaders after the elections were held is itself suspicious. In addition, such a cabinet of ministers is considered unstable and vulnerable, since the refusal to work in the government of one of its members entails the resignation of the cabinet. In the post-war period, more than fifty government offices were replaced in Italy.
Which countries have such governments
Coalition governments are formed more often in countries where the parliamentis elected through a proportional system of elections, in which mandates are distributed in proportion to the votes cast for lists of candidates. Thus, small parties also get seats in parliament. In Russia, such an election system existed from 2007 to 2011.
Coalition governments are traditionally created in Scandinavian countries: Denmark, Sweden and Norway, in European monarchies: Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg. In countries such as Germany, Italy, Israel, Ireland, Hungary, coalitions are represented by a small number of parties or a Grand Coalition.
Coalition cabinet in Britain
In May 2010, for the first time in the past 70 years, the formation of a coalition government of Great Britain under the leadership of D. Cameron was launched. This was done at a time when the country was tired of it's political, economic and social problems. Politicians had high hopes for the interaction between the Conservatives and Labor. These parties are quite different, but they found a common language and ruled the country for about 7 years.
Provisional Government of Russia 1917
In early March 1917, the Provisional Government (VP) was created in Russia. It was formed on the basis of an agreement between the Provisional Committee of the Duma and the Socialist-Revolutionary-Menshevik leadership of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. It operated under the leadership of Prince Lvov G. E. It included representatives of the party of Cadets, Octobrists, Centrists, Socialist-Revolutionaries and others. The decisive role in the VP was played by the party of the bourgeoisie andlandlords - constitutional democrats (cadets).
EaP has been recognized by the US, British and French governments. But it could not lead and solve the problems of a seething country. The only way out of this situation was the creation of a coalition provisional government. It would provide a leader capable of rallying its members. The dissatisfaction of Russian citizens with the work of the EaP led to constant protests, which caused even greater destabilization of society.
First coalition
The constant dissatisfaction of the workers, soldiers, tired of the war, led to mass protests. All this provoked a series of crises. They, in turn, led to the creation in early May of the First Coalition Government. Foreign Minister P. N. Milyukov and Minister of War A. I. Guchkov, who were very unpopular with the people and the intelligentsia, were excluded from the former composition. Under an agreement signed by the VP with the Petrograd Soviet, it included 6 socialist ministers, most of them Mensheviks.
Prince Lvov remained the Prime Minister, the Socialist-Revolutionary A. Kerensky was appointed Minister of the Army and Navy, and the non-partisan Mikhail Tereshchenko was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. It was a completely bourgeois government. In this composition, the big bourgeoisie made small concessions, sharing power with the upper layer of the middle class. The policy of the government remained the same - war to the bitter end. In words, the VP promised a speedy peace, but in reality it launched unprepared offensive operations on the Southwestern Front. Devastation reigned in the country,which the ruling circles were unable to fight.
Second coalition
The inability of the first coalition cabinet of ministers to resolve the country's issues in the context of ongoing hostilities, the disintegration of the armies, and the economic crisis led to his resignation and the creation of a second coalition government. It was created in early August 1917. A. Kerensky became its chairman and minister of war. As the SRs proclaimed, it was a "government of salvation", but the country steadily continued to slide into the abyss of revolution.
According to the researchers, the purpose of creating the second coalition was to establish the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. To achieve this, it is necessary first to establish a military dictatorship capable of restoring order in the country. This requires a strong army, which was not. The dual policy of the government, which flirted with the proletarians, hiding its true goals, irritated the bourgeoisie, which did not fully trust the provisional government. Dissatisfaction was also expressed by the governments of the United States, England and France, demanding decisive action to restore order in the country.
All this led to the fact that the Supreme Commander-in-Chief LG Kornilov demanded that the government transfer all factories, plants, the entire railway, all strategic facilities of the country to the military, as well as introduce the death pen alty. Instead, the Minister of the Interior was given exclusive powers to deal with revolutionary movements and their leaders to harshly suppress any action of the people for theirrights.
But these half-measures did not satisfy the reactionary military and the bourgeoisie. On August 25, 1917, Kornilov raised a military rebellion, which was suppressed by detachments of workers under the leadership of the Bolsheviks. All this was the beginning of a new crisis. The tension grew every day. The government of the country was transferred to the Council of Five or "Directory", it included five ministers under the leadership of Kerensky.
Third coalition
At the end of September, the crisis situation reached its climax. The Bolsheviks were clearly aware of the importance of the moment. Lenin returns from abroad. A third coalition government is formed. It only resembled a coalition in form. The Socialist-Revolutionaries, Cadets, and industrialists played the leading role in it. The Provisional Council of the Republic was assembled, designed to later turn into a bourgeois parliament.
The brutal suppression of disgruntled miners in the Donbass, punitive actions against the rebellious peasants, measures taken against the Bolsheviks and members of the Soviets of People's Deputies plunged the country into a severe crisis. He made the October Revolution of 1917 possible. The reason for the victory of the Bolsheviks was a close connection with the people. The interim government expressed the interest of a handful of people, it was very far from the masses, one might say, on the other side of the barricades.
