In this article
In many democracies, elections rarely give one party more than half the seats in parliament. When that happens, parties must team up to govern. The result is a coalition: two or more parties sharing power under an agreed plan.
Coalitions are normal in most of Europe and in countries such as Israel, India and New Zealand. They bring compromise, but they can also be slow to form and quick to fall.
Key facts
- Majority needed: a government usually needs the support of more than half of parliament to pass a confidence vote and its budget.
- Germany, 2025: talks after the February election produced a 146-page coalition agreement on 9 April.
- Netherlands, 2025 to 2026: forming a government took 117 days after the October 2025 election.
- Record: Belgium once went 541 days without a new government, in 2010 and 2011.
How a coalition forms
- The election: voters choose parties. If none wins a majority, no one can govern alone.
- Exploring options: party leaders, sometimes guided by a mediator appointed by the head of state, test which combinations could reach a majority.
- Negotiations: the likely partners bargain over policies and over which party gets which ministries.
- The agreement: the deal is written down and, in some parties, approved by members.
- The vote: parliament confirms the new prime minister or government.
Two recent examples
Germany
After Germany’s election on 23 February 2025, the conservative CDU/CSU and the Social Democrats (SPD) negotiated for about six weeks. On 9 April they published a coalition agreement titled “Responsibility for Germany”, about 146 pages long. SPD members then approved it in a party vote, and Friedrich Merz became chancellor in May.
The Netherlands
The Dutch voted on 29 October 2025. It took 117 days to form a new cabinet: a minority coalition of D66, the VVD and the CDA led by Rob Jetten, sworn in on 23 February 2026. A minority government has fewer than half the seats, so it must win support from other parties vote by vote.
| Country | Election | Government formed | Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 23 February 2025 | May 2025 | CDU/CSU and SPD |
| Netherlands | 29 October 2025 | 23 February 2026 | D66, VVD and CDA (minority) |
What goes into a coalition agreement
The agreement is a contract between the parties. It lists the policies the government will pursue, often in great detail, and how ministries are shared. Many also set rules for handling disagreements, such as regular meetings of party leaders or a promise not to vote against each other in parliament.
For voters and journalists it is a useful reference: when a government is accused of breaking a promise, the first question is whether that promise was in the agreement.
Strengths
- Coalitions usually represent a larger share of voters than a single party would.
- The need to compromise tends to produce steadier, more moderate policy.
- Smaller parties and their supporters get a voice in government.
Why coalitions break
The same need for agreement is also the main weakness. Coalitions fall for a few common reasons:
- A red-line issue: partners clash on a topic their voters care deeply about, such as migration, the budget or a war.
- Falling polls: a junior partner that is losing support may leave to show independence before the next election.
- Too many partners: three- or four-party coalitions have more points of friction. Reading the opinion polls carefully can show which partner feels most pressure.
- Kingmakers: a small party whose votes are essential can gain influence out of proportion to its size, and resentment can build.
When a coalition collapses, the result may be a new coalition in the same parliament, a caretaker government or an early election, depending on the country’s rules.
A Plain Guide to How a Bill Becomes Law
How to read coalition news
When you see a headline about coalition tensions, ask: how many seats does each partner have, what does each need to show its voters, and what happens if one walks out? Coalitions also affect how laws are made; our guide to how a bill becomes law explains the steps a proposal must pass.
Three common types of coalition
| Type | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Majority coalition | Partners together hold more than half the seats | Germany’s CDU/CSU and SPD government from 2025 |
| Minority coalition | Partners hold fewer than half the seats and rely on other parties vote by vote | The Netherlands’ D66, VVD and CDA government from 2026 |
| Confidence and supply | A party stays outside government but agrees to support it on confidence votes and the budget | Used at times in the UK, Canada, Sweden and New Zealand |
A “grand coalition” is a majority coalition between the two largest parties, which are usually rivals. Germany has had several; they bring stability in parliament but can leave a weak opposition.
Frequently asked questions
Is a coalition government less stable than a single-party government?
Not always. Some coalitions last full terms, while single-party governments with small majorities can struggle. Stability depends on how many partners there are, how far apart their policies are and how disputes are handled.
Who becomes prime minister in a coalition?
Usually the leader of the largest party in the coalition, although agreements sometimes give the post to a smaller partner or share it.
Do voters get a say in the coalition deal?
Not directly. Some parties, such as Germany’s SPD, ask their members to approve the agreement, but voters as a whole do not vote on it.
