Proportional representation in presidential systems
A number of countries which are governed by non-parliamentary executive branches also allow for parliamentary representation by various forms of proportional representation. While proportional representation tends to be associated with, and is mostly practiced in, countries which are governed by a parliamentary system, a number of theoretical benefits are accrued from the usage of PR in legislatures which are not charged with designating the executive head of government:
- executive stability is maintained in spite of a highly diverse political party makeup in the legislature.
- the multiparty makeup of the legislature is more reflective of the ideological and emotional drives of voters than a party monopoly or duopoly.
- Party discipline and party unity May Be most eased when there is less need to constantly maintain confidence in a parliament-dependent executive, thus leading to easier splitting of parties and parliamentary groups.
This hybridization is most common in South and Central America; it was also partially used in Israel for its 1996 election in which the then-prime minister, Shimon Peres, was directly elected by popular vote, but was reverted to a parliamentary system following the 2001 election after it failed to produce more stable governments (which may be due to a continuing dependence upon parliamentary cross-party mandates) and led to an intense party fragmentation in the Knesset.
List of presidential systems with proportional representation
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Suriname
List of semi-presidential systems with proportional representation
- Algeria
- Angola
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Peru
- Sri Lanka