elecciónelección

Elecciónelección is a neologism used in political theory and journalism to describe a hybrid approach to selecting leaders that blends elements of selection and election. The term signals a two-stage process in which an initial preselection narrows candidates, followed by a public vote or evaluative step that determines the final choice. It functions as a descriptive label rather than a formal criterion, used to discuss democratic legitimacy and governance design.

Origin and usage: The term is a portmanteau inspired by the Spanish words elección (election) and selección (selection). It is not an established technical term in political science, but appears in opinion pieces and theoretical writing to highlight differences between popular voting and preselection. In practice, elecciónelección may refer to two-stage systems such as party preselection followed by a general election, or organizational processes in which candidates are screened before nomination.

Implications and critique: Proponents argue that combining preselection with public voting can enhance legitimacy by ensuring candidates meet criteria while preserving broad participation. Critics warn that preselection can undermine equal participation or entrench insiders if not transparent. Because the term is not standardized, its precise meaning depends on the context and definitions provided by authors.