Gary van der Merwe retweetledi
In the context of concerns over coalition instability, the correct way to "deal with" problematic smaller parties is to enforce certain basic standards of administration and internal democracy, in much the same way that financial records are required.
The problem is not small parties, per se. It is parties that are unprincipled and act arbitrarily. Clearly, this is not limited to tiny parties.
One proxy for such behaviour on the public stage is the manner in which parties conduct their own affairs.
The internal business of parties cannot be controlled from the outside, except that minimum standards, and certain administrative requirements could do much to ensure the lawful behaviour of parties.
Aside from positively affecting the overall culture in our politics, this would go a long way to protect the rights of members, candidates and elected representatives, who have almost no power to counter unfair and arbitrary actions of party bosses.
Likely, this would contribute to a higher calibre of people being elected as party office-bearers, and then as public representatives (by limiting the scope for unlawful manipulation of party processes).
English
