By Hem Bishwakarma

Hung Parliament

Introduction

A hung parliament is a situation in which no single political party has an outright majority of seats in a legislative body, such as a parliament or congress. This means that no party has the ability to pass legislation on its own and must form a coalition with other parties in order to govern. Hung parliaments can lead to political instability and difficulty in forming a government, as parties may have conflicting agendas and it may be difficult to reach a compromise. In some countries, a hung parliament may result in a new election being called in an attempt to break the deadlock.

History of Hung Parliament

The concept of a hung parliament has a long history and can be traced back to parliamentary systems of government dating back centuries. In modern times, hung parliaments have occurred in a number of countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

In the United Kingdom, the first hung parliament occurred in 1974, when the Conservative Party won the most seats but fell short of a majority. This resulted in the formation of a minority Labour government, which relied on the support of smaller parties to pass legislation. There have been several hung parliaments in the UK since then, including in 2010 and 2017.

In Canada, hung parliaments have occurred several times, including in 1921, 1926, and 2008. In each of these cases, no party won a majority of seats and a minority government was formed.

In Australia, hung parliaments have occurred on several occasions, including in 1940, 2010, and most recently in 2019. In each of these cases, no party won a majority of seats and a minority government was formed.

History of Hung Parliament in Nepal

Nepal has a parliamentary system of government and has experienced a number of hung parliaments in its history.

In the past, hung parliaments have occurred in Nepal when no single party has won a majority of seats in the country’s unicameral legislative body, the House of Representatives. This has led to the formation of minority governments or the need to form coalitions in order to govern.

One example of a hung parliament in Nepal occurred in 2008, when the Constituent Assembly elections resulted in a hung parliament. The Nepali Congress party won the most seats but fell short of a majority, leading to the formation of a coalition government led by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

In 2017, Nepal held another round of elections for the House of Representatives, which resulted in another hung parliament. The Nepali Congress party again won the most seats but fell short of a majority, leading to the formation of a coalition government led by the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).

Overall, hung parliaments have been a common occurrence in Nepal’s parliamentary system of government, particularly in recent years. In each case, parties have had to work together in order to form a government and pass legislation.

Advantages of Hung Parliament

There are a few potential advantages to a hung parliament:

1. It can lead to more inclusive decision-making: In a hung parliament, parties may need to form coalitions or work together in order to pass legislation. This can lead to a more collaborative approach to decision-making, as parties must find ways to compromise and work together in order to govern.
2. It can encourage moderation: In a hung parliament, parties may need to moderate their positions in order to form a coalition or gain the support of other parties. This can lead to more moderate policies and a more centrist approach to governance.
3. It can lead to a more diverse government: In a hung parliament, parties may need to form coalitions with parties that have different ideologies. This can lead to a more diverse government that represents a wider range of viewpoints.
4. It can lead to more stability: In some cases, a hung parliament may lead to more stability in government, as parties may be more inclined to work together in order to avoid the need for a new election.

Disadvantages of Hung Parliament

There are a few potential disadvantages to a hung parliament:

1. It can lead to political instability: In a hung parliament, it may be difficult for parties to form a government or pass legislation, as no single party has a majority. This can lead to political instability and uncertainty.
2. It can be difficult to form a government: In a hung parliament, parties may need to form coalitions or rely on the support of other parties in order to govern. This can be a complex and time-consuming process, and it may be difficult to reach a compromise between parties with conflicting agendas.
3. It can lead to a weak government: In a hung parliament, the government may be reliant on the support of smaller parties or may have a small majority. This can make the government vulnerable to defeats on key votes and can make it difficult to pass legislation.
4. It can lead to a more divisive political climate: In a hung parliament, parties may need to make compromises in order to form a government or pass legislation. This can lead to tension between parties and may result in a more divisive political climate.
5. It can lead to a lack of decisive action: In a hung parliament, the government may be unable to take decisive action on key issues due to a lack of a clear majority. This can lead to a lack of progress on important policy issues.