Vaalikoalitio

Vaalikoalitio is a pre-election agreement between political parties or groups to coordinate their participation in an election. The aim is to maximize electoral success by avoiding vote splitting among ideologically similar parties and, in some cases, to help smaller actors gain representation within a shared platform. The term is used in Finnish political discourse to describe these arrangements, though the exact wording varies; similar concepts are called electoral alliances or pre-electoral coalitions in other languages.

Common forms include a joint party list under a single banner for all or part of the electoral field, agreements to allocate seats or positions after the election, or informal understandings that certain parties will refrain from competing against each other in key districts. The arrangement may be limited to national parliamentary elections, or extend to regional or European elections.

Legal and practical considerations vary by jurisdiction. Some electoral laws require registration of alliances or prohibit certain types of cooperation to protect the integrity of the electoral process. Threshold effects, district magnitude, and the distribution formula influence how valuable a vaalikoalitio is for the participating parties.

Impact and critique: supporters argue that vaalikoalitio helps smaller parties survive in proportional systems, reduces wasted votes, and can contribute to stable post-election governance. Critics contend that such pacts undermine voter choice, concentrate power, or inflate the influence of the coalition’s largest member. They can also complicate accountability if responsibility for platform commitments becomes diffuse.

See also: electoral alliance, pre-electoral coalition, party list.