Problems, problems, problems. A separately elected president and legislature based on strict PR is all too redolent of Weimar. Separate but equal power centers will lead to a dangerous tug of war. The president may try to dissolve the house in the event of a clash or the house may try to impeach the president. The average voter will be torn over whom to support. So why bother? Why not just place full power in a PR-style legislature with full power to choose a president. amend the constitution, and hence override the judiciary on a basis of a simple majority?
@daniellazare The political system you're describing has never existed, while a President elected by the Popular Vote, and a unicameral legislature elected by strict PR does exist in several countries today.
Lucas D here, The political system Lazare describes does exist and has been a model of a democratic republic for over 150 years. The system Dan describes exists all over the Nordic region of Northern Europe other than Iceland and Finland. This model also exists in New Zealand. I believe the head of state and government should be fused, to avoid the antidemocratic nature and inefficiencies that would come with a separate presidency.
The monarch heads of state that exist in the Nordics have symbolic power. They pose no substantial political power in ways an elected separate head of state would.
Problems, problems, problems. A separately elected president and legislature based on strict PR is all too redolent of Weimar. Separate but equal power centers will lead to a dangerous tug of war. The president may try to dissolve the house in the event of a clash or the house may try to impeach the president. The average voter will be torn over whom to support. So why bother? Why not just place full power in a PR-style legislature with full power to choose a president. amend the constitution, and hence override the judiciary on a basis of a simple majority?
@daniellazare The political system you're describing has never existed, while a President elected by the Popular Vote, and a unicameral legislature elected by strict PR does exist in several countries today.
Lucas D here, The political system Lazare describes does exist and has been a model of a democratic republic for over 150 years. The system Dan describes exists all over the Nordic region of Northern Europe other than Iceland and Finland. This model also exists in New Zealand. I believe the head of state and government should be fused, to avoid the antidemocratic nature and inefficiencies that would come with a separate presidency.
The monarch heads of state that exist in the Nordics have symbolic power. They pose no substantial political power in ways an elected separate head of state would.