Editing Proportional representation (section)

===Representation of minor parties===
The use of multiple-member districts elects a greater variety of members compared to first-past-the-post. It has been argued that in emerging democracies, inclusion of minorities in the legislature can be essential for social stability and to consolidate the democratic process.<ref name="ideaEsd" />{{rp|58}}

Critics of PR, on the other hand, claim inclusion can give extreme parties a foothold in parliament. That is sometimes cited as a cause for the [[Weimar Republic#Institutional problems|collapse of the Weimar]] government. With very low thresholds, very small parties can act as "king-makers",<ref>{{cite news |first1=Ana Nicolaci |last1=da Costa |first2=Charlotte |last2=Greenfield |title=New Zealand's ruling party ahead after poll but kingmaker in no rush to decide |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-newzealand-election-tally/new-zealands-ruling-party-ahead-after-poll-but-kingmaker-in-no-rush-to-decide-idUSKCN1BY0LZ |work=[[Reuters]] |date=23 September 2017}}</ref> holding larger parties to ransom during [[Coalition government|coalition]] discussions. The example of [[Israel]] is often quoted,<ref name="ideaEsd" />{{rp|59}} These problems can be limited, as in the modern German [[Bundestag]], by the use of a high electoral threshold, limiting the parties that receive parliamentary representation (This would in turn increase the number of wasted votes, if voters cannot register alternate preferences).

Another criticism is that the dominant parties in plurality/majoritarian systems, often looked on as "coalitions" or as "[[broad church]]es",<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Iain |title=People in broad church parties should think twice before attacking coalitions |url=http://www.libdemvoice.org/people-in-broad-church-parties-should-think-twice-before-attacking-coalitions-20101.html |publisher=[[Liberal Democrat Voice]] |access-date=29 July 2014 |date=29 June 2010}}</ref> can fragment under PR as the election of candidates from smaller groups becomes possible. Israel, Brazil, and Italy (until [[Italian electoral law of 1993|1993]]) are examples.<ref name="ideaEsd" />{{rp|59,89}} However, research shows, in general, there is only a small increase in the number of parties in parliament (although small parties have larger representation) under PR.

Open list systems and STV, the only prominent PR system that does not require political parties, enable [[Independent politician|independent]] candidates to be elected. In Ireland, on average, about six independent candidates have been elected each parliament.<ref>{{cite web |title=Electoral Reform Society's evidence to the Joint Committee on the Draft Bill for House of Lords Reform |url=http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/reforming-the-house-of-lords |publisher=[[Electoral Reform Society]] |date=21 October 2011 |access-date=10 May 2015}}</ref> This can lead to a situation where forming a Parliamentary majority requires support of one or more of these independent representatives. In some cases these independents have positions that are closely aligned with the governing party and it hardly matters. The Irish Government formed after the [[2016 Irish general election|2016]] election even included independent representatives in the cabinet of a minority government. In other cases, the independent member's electoral platform is entirely local and addressing this is a price for support.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}