Party politics in Britain, France and Germany

Conservatives (Tories):
Can be loosely compared with the Republican party in
the U.S.
Belief in supply side economics, free enterprise,
strong national defense, anti-communism.
Advocate cutting taxes and public spending, private
industry as opposed to public services, more
traditional values.
Labour:
Coalition of disparate interests
Originally an outgrowth of the trade union movement
founded as the party of the working class
Initially adhered to a moderate form of democratic socialism
Today, not just a working class party
In past, has advocated:
Re-nationalization of industry
Unilateral nuclear disarmament
Expansion of social welfare system
Higher taxes for the wealthy
Concessions to the labor unions
Having lost so many elections to the conservatives 
struggle between left leaning and moderate factions.
Left-leaning faction broke off, weakening the Labour
party.
1987, Labour shifted to center to appeal to mainstream
Won the 1997 elections
Current Party Distribution in British House of Commons:
Party Seats
Labor 351
Conservative 192
Liberal Democrat 63
Scottish National Party/Plaid Cymru 9
Democratic Unionist 9
Sinn Fein 5
Other 17
British electoral system = “first past the post.”
Each party in a district runs a single candidate
Whoever gets the most votes wins (like in U.S.)
Harder for smaller parties to win seats.
Almost guarantees a majority party in parliament
(from which P.M. and cabinet come).
Elections:
Prime Minister formally asks Queen to dissolve
Parliament and summon new parliament
Elections must be held within three weeks of the
proclamation
Generally Prime Minister moves to dissolve Parliament right
before the five year term is up
But, remember, government can choose election date,
Majority party has advantage over the
opposition.
Party in power can choose to hold elections
when it is very popular to ensure its re-election
The French love parties.
Broader spectrum than in Britain or U.S.
Two main parties on left = socialists and
communists.
Communists used to get ~20% of vote until
1980’s.
Socialists moved to center and won presidency
and majority in National Assembly in 1981
(maintained for 14 years).
On the right: Gaullist parties
Union of Democrats for the Republic (UDR)
More traditional conservative party
Rally for the Republic (RDR)
Neo-con party.
UDR and RDR merged to form the Union for a Popular
Movement (UMP) in 2002.
UMP= party of both current president and P.M.
The Democratic Movement (MoDem) Party
(Formerly Union for French Democracy (UDF))
Coalition of smaller center-right wing parties.

Parties on the right support: strong presidential government,

centralized administrative system and free market economic
policies.
Separated more by ego than ideology.
Freedom to form parties
 lots of smaller, even radical, parties.
Ex: The National Front

Jean-Marie Le Pen:
“The races are not
equal’
Environmental Parties:
The Greens, Ecology Generation
Joined forces in 2002, hold 4 seats in
the National Assembly.

Communist Party: 23 seats in National Assembly

Current Party Distribution in French National Assembly:
Party Seats
Union Popular Movement (conservative) 156
Socialist Party 97
Democratic Movement 33
Communist Party 23
Democratic European Social Rally 15
Greens 3
Other 4
France used to use a system of proportional representation:
Percentage of votes a party earns is translated into a
number of seats
Ex: 100 seats in Parliament
UMP won 40% of votes  40 seats.
Socialists won 30% of votes  30 seats.
MoDem won 20% of votes  20 seats.
National Front won 5% of votes  5 seats.
Greens won 5% of votes  5 seats.
Changed to a two ballot system in 1988.
1st round: Candidates run in single member districts.
2nd round: Two candidates with most votes compete in
run off.
Leads to coalition building for second round (usually 4-5
months after first round).
Ex: Greens lose first round, throw support (and
votes) behind Socialists in second round.
Similar for Presidential elections. Candidate must win
absolute majority; if not  run off election between top 2
candidates.
French dual executive system can lead to cohabitation:
When President and Prime Minister are of different
parties. Requires a lot of flexibility and tolerance.

Ex: Socialist former P.M. Jospin and

Conservative President Chirac (lasted 5 years,
1997-2002)
Germany:
Several parties; 3 dominate.
Center-left Social Democrats (SDP)
Center-right Christian Democrats (CDU)
currently in coalition with the Christian
Social Union  CDU/CSU

Smaller Free Democratic Party (FDP) plays strategic

role in keeping balance.
Fringe Green Party (more to left than in France).
Coalitions = common.
Current Party Distribution in German Bundestag:
Party Seats
Christian Dem./Christian Social 225
Democratic Socialist Party 222
Free Democratic Party 61
Left Party 53
Greens 51
Independents 2
Two different electoral systems:
Each voter gets two votes. The first vote is for the
direct candidate. The second vote (or party vote) is
from a party's regional list.
1st vote: first past the post system (as in U.K.
and U.S.). Half of Bundestag’s deputies elected
this way. Focuses on individual candidate.

2nd vote: proportional representation elects other

half of deputies. Focuses on party ideology.
Political Culture:
The beliefs, ideas, myths, and values, and common
history/memory that motivate a people.

Why is this important to the type of political regime a

country has?