What is needed is a fundamental change in political culture. Often, the cause of coalition breakdown or poor performance is because of the individuals involved, their egos, and their pursuit for power.
Service delivery, accountable governance, human rights, and the deepening of democracy must always be at the centre of political discussion. The laws and frameworks that are developed must be geared towards enabling our politics to better serve the public, not to strengthen the power of the political elite.
We must also be cautious of the obsession with achieving ‘coalition stability’. Democracy must be able to function when there are changes in government. When a coalition collapses, there must be systems in place to ensure that the public service and administration continues unaffected.
MVC Campaign on coalition agreements before the 2024 elections
There is consensus that after an election, when a coalition has been formed, the parties make their coalition agreement public. While not a legally binding contract, it gives the public a tool against which they can measure parties’ performance and commitment. But knowing this before an election is far more powerful.
It will provide a crucial tool to that will empower voters to pressure parties to stick to their principles and promises made in their election manifestos. If a party can choose the coalition partners it wants post-election while compromising on its stated positions and policies, it undermines the voter. Having pre-election arrangements made public, will also expose parties that are willing to forego principle and join forces in the pursuit of power after the vote.
The voter should be the most important element in this equation. As we approach 29th May, MVC will write to all parties contesting the elections to demand information on their potential coalition arrangements. This is crucial information to vote from a more informed position and to properly exercise our political rights.
Conclusion
Over the past year, there has been a growing narrative emerging, predominantly from the governing ANC, that coalitions are a problem, arguing that having a single party in power is preferable. This is despite the ANC being in multiple coalitions at the local level. Increasingly it looks like the ANC will need to enter coalitions, in some provinces and even nationally, to maintain power.
Instead of laying the blame for governance failures on coalition government itself, we need to interrogate why coalitions don’t always function well, why they break down, why they don’t deliver. We do need a legal framework, albeit a limited one. But all of this will be undermined if there is not a different approach to our politics, one premised on the public good.
Despite a flurry of action in 2023, ostensibly to develop some laws before 2024, nothing will happen before elections. Parties are too concerned with the electioneering, and this has been kicked down the road. But we need to ensure that the momentum that remains is maintained. As a legal framework is developed, we must not leave this solely to political parties, who will be more concerned with their own interests. But parties (and now independents) are meant to represent our interests. We can’t leave such an important part of our democracy soley in the hands of the political elite.
DEMOCRACY FROM BELOW…
Social movements are using the vote to center their demands.
Abahlali baseMjondolo – Election 2024: The People’s Minimum Demands
Amadiba Crisis Committee – It’s time for People’s Power
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS…
My Vote Counts has some exciting projects lined up as we move closer to #SAElections24!
Boikanyo Moloto will be launching a Civil Society Electoral Reform Panel which will be a civil society led effort towards electoral reform, increasing accountability and deepening democracy.
Robyn Pasensie will host a discussion on ways to fund a democracy which increases competitiveness of parties and independents, good governance, and oversight, while curbing corruption and undue influence in our politics.
STAY TUNED…
