Proportional representatión in post‐communist Eastern Europe: the first decade

Abstract

Using the criteria for evaluating the democratic credentials of an electoral system suggested by Pinto‐Duschinsky, this article assesses the performance of electoral systems in Eastern Europe since 1989. The evidence suggests that there is nothing intrinsic to PR that prevents voters from dismissing incumbent governments or prevents major parties from taking the lead in government formation. However, analysis of levels of turnout and women's representation shows that in Eastern Europe PR has not delivered the higher rates often associated with it.