The success of right-wing populists in Europe under different electoral systems

The article discusses the role of the electoral system in the electoral success of right-wing populist parties. Sweden (proportional system with open lists), Germany (mixed linked system), France (majority system of absolute majority) and the United Kingdom (plurality system) are selected as examples. The results of the voting and the results of the elections to the national parliaments of these countries and to the European Parliament, in the case of Germany, as well as the elections to the landtags, and in the case of France, as well as the presidential elections, are being studied. We are talking about the parties the Swedish Democrats, Alternative for Germany, the National Front / National Unification, the United Kingdom Independence Party and the Reform the United Kingdom party. These parties arose at different times and have many significant differences, however, a sharp increase in their support in the elections occurred approximately in the same period, namely 2014–2018. It confirms the view that majority systems (plurality and majority-majority) prevent radical parties from obtaining a large number of mandates and underestimate their representation relative to the level of their electoral support, while the proportional system allows them to obtain mandates corresponding to their level of support. The plurality system also prevents a party that does not belong to the two main parties from gaining significant electoral support through “tactical” voting. However, these institutional features cannot stop the growth of support for radical parties due to social and political factors. And after their support reaches 20–30%, the same features begin to work in their favor.

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