The Galician electoral system: to reform, or not to reform, that is the question ; El sistema electoral gallego: reformar, o no reformar, esa es la cuestión

Abstract

Abstract:Since Galicia reached its political autonomy until the last elections of September of 2016, ten regional elections of the representatives for the Galician Parliament have been held. In the course of this time, it is possible to analyze the Galician electoral system´s yields (in terms of proportionality, party fragmentation, malapportionment, and premiums, as well as penalties to the parties), and inquire in the debates about its origin and later modifications. After the approval of the Autonomous Statute in 1981, the Galician electoral system was changed in 1992 to increase the electoral threshold and, more recently, two proposals of reform have been suggested in 2012 and 2014. Yet, the electoral rules have remained stable since the slight modification in the nineties, so they have continued to benefit the established parties, by creating barriers preventing the entrance of other parties and generating inequality in the value of the vote. Thus, in this paper we propose an electoral reform that, with minor changes, could solve some problems of the Galician electoral system, without jeopardizing the governability and political stability that have characterized the Galician political subsystem during these years of political autonomy. ; Resumen:Desde que Galicia alcanzase la autonomía política hasta los últimos comicios regionales de septiembre de 2016, se han celebrado un total de diez elecciones para elegir a los representantes del Parlamento de Galicia. Transcurrido este tiempo, es posible analizar los rendimientos del sistema electoral gallego (en términos de proporcionalidad, fragmentación partidista, desigualdad en el valor del voto y primas y penalizaciones a los partidos), así como indagar en los debates sobre su origen y modificaciones posteriores. Tras la aprobación del Estatuto de Autonomía en 1981, el sistema electoral gallego fue reformado en 1992 para aumentar la barrera electoral y, más recientemente, se han planteado otras dos propuestas de reforma en los años 2012 y 2014. Con todo, las reglas electorales se han mantenido estables desde aquella pequeña modificación de los años noventa, por lo que han continuado beneficiando a los partidos establecidos, al establecer barreras de entrada a otras formaciones políticas y generar desigualdades en el valor del voto. Por ello, en este artículo formulamos una propuesta de reforma electoral que, con pequeños retoques, podría corregir algunas de las deficiencias del sistema electoral gallego, sin por ello poner en riesgo la gobernabilidad y estabilidad política que han caracterizado al subsistema político gallego durante estos años de autonomía política.Summary:I. Introduction. II. The Galician electoral system. 1. The regional electoral context. 2. The origin of the Galician electoral system. 3. The Galician electoral system at present. III. Political consequences of the electoral system. IV. Reforms and reform proposals of the Gacilician electoral system: 1. The controversial reform of 1992. 2. Proposal reforms of 2012 and 2014. V. A humble electoral reform proposal. Vi. Conclusions.Abstract:Since Galicia reached its political autonomy until the last elections of September of 2016, ten regional elections of the representatives for the Galician Parliament have been held. In the course of this time, it is possible to analyze the Galician electoral system´s yields (in terms of proportionality, party fragmentation, malapportionment, and premiums, as well as penalties to the parties), and inquire in the debates about its origin and later modifications. After the approval of the Autonomous Statute in 1981, the Galician electoral system was changed in 1992 to increase the electoral threshold and, more recently, two proposals of reform have been suggested in 2012 and 2014. Yet, the electoral rules have remained stable since the slight modification in the nineties, so they have continued to benefit the established parties, by creating barriers preventing the entrance of other parties and generating inequality in the value of the vote. Thus, in this paper we propose an electoral reform that, with minor changes, could solve some problems of the Galician electoral system, without jeopardizing the governability and political stability that have characterized the Galician political subsystem during these years of political autonomy.