TLDR: Understanding Pre-Electoral Coalitions in Central and Eastern Europe – a Review of Raimondas Ibenskas’s article.

The few months leading up to elections are a critical time for political parties. Specifically, in European democracies with multiparty systems, the formation of pre-electoral coalitions holds immense strategic value. During these periods, parties look for ways to attract a broader range of votes while simultaneously maintaining their credibility. Yet, how do parties know with whom to coalesce? And what can they base their coalitions on to ensure success both during the election and post-election in the parliament or in the government?

In this week’s TLDR research paper, political scientist Raimondas Ibenskas from the University of Bergen analyzes 64 democratic elections in eleven Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) democracies. His findings lay out the most important factors in maximizing parties’ chances for successful electoral outcomes after forming pre-electoral coalitions.The few months leading up to elections are a critical time for political parties. Specifically, in European democracies with multiparty systems, the formation of pre-electoral coalitions holds immense strategic value. During these periods, parties look for ways to attract a broader range of votes while simultaneously maintaining their credibility.

Yet, how do parties know with whom to coalesce? And what can they base their coalitions on to ensure success both during the election and post-election in the parliament or in the government? In this week’s research paper, political scientist Raimondas Ibenskas from the University of Bergen analyzes 64 democratic elections in eleven Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) democracies. His findings lay out the most important factors in maximizing parties’ chances for successful electoral outcomes after forming pre-electoral coalitions.