This demonstrates one of the hidden advantages of the parliamentary systems in Europe.
Look at AfD. They've been completely locked out of power by a coalition government, which seems like a bum deal for AfD voters. How can you have zero representation with like 30% of the vote?
But that coalition isn't addressing any of the issues prompting people to vote AfD, so their vote share is only growing with each election. If this eventually leads to a straight majority for AfD, then they won't just have representation - they'll have complete control. They won't have to compromise or negotiate with their enemies in order to implement policy, and that wouldn't be possible in a two party system with so many inherent "release valves".
That's a fair point, hadn't though of it like that.
On the flipside, there's potential that the longer they remain out of power, the more they pivot to be more acceptable, and by the time they get in AfD is just normie. Because we've seen that in Europe quite a few times, too; just like in the US, when the "outsiders" get in they often cuck.
This demonstrates one of the hidden advantages of the parliamentary systems in Europe.
Look at AfD. They've been completely locked out of power by a coalition government, which seems like a bum deal for AfD voters. How can you have zero representation with like 30% of the vote?
But that coalition isn't addressing any of the issues prompting people to vote AfD, so their vote share is only growing with each election. If this eventually leads to a straight majority for AfD, then they won't just have representation - they'll have complete control. They won't have to compromise or negotiate with their enemies in order to implement policy, and that wouldn't be possible in a two party system with so many inherent "release valves".
That's a fair point, hadn't though of it like that.
On the flipside, there's potential that the longer they remain out of power, the more they pivot to be more acceptable, and by the time they get in AfD is just normie. Because we've seen that in Europe quite a few times, too; just like in the US, when the "outsiders" get in they often cuck.