Parties and candidates are vital for democracy

A country can be said to be democratic only when its elections constitute a real competition among a multitude of political parties and/or independent candidates. Voters need to have a free choice among various policy options and candidates to determine who their representatives will be. Only very few countries are small enough to practice direct democracy in all decisions, and it is therefore crucial for all other democracies to find ways to organise an effective and democratic system of representation. Political parties and candidates are actors specialized in the task of performing representative functions.

At the basis of such a system, there needs to be an acceptance of the basic human rights and freedoms to speak, organize, stand for election, and hold meetings. Citizen engagement in and understanding of complex political issues to a large extent depend on the ability of political parties to activate and educate, formulate policy options, and channel public opinion. Only where they are free to form and function can they fulfil these roles.

Political parties

A political party is an organized group of people with at least roughly similar political aims and opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office. Even though the presentation of candidates and the electoral campaign are the functions that are most visible to the electorate, political parties fulfil many other vital roles in a democratic society. They are also institutionalized mediators between civil society and those who decide and implement decisions. By this, they enable their members’ and supporters’ demands to be represented in parliament and in government. Key tasks of political parties include the following:

1. Aggregate and articulate needs and problems as identified by members and supporters
2. Socialize and educate voters and citizens in the functioning of the political and electoral system and generating general political values
3. Balance opposing demands and convert them into general policies
4. Activate and mobilize citizens into participating in political decisions and transforming their opinions into viable policy options
5. Channel public opinion from citizens to government
6. Recruit and train candidates for public office

Internal functioning of political parties

The internal functioning of individual political parties is to some extent determined by forces that are external to political parties (such as electoral system, political culture, legal regulations, etc.), but even more by processes that are internal. Factors that influence the political party from within include the personality of leaders and staff, the ideological foundations, party history, and internal political culture. If a political party would like the democratic principles of electoral politics to be applied within the party, they may consider practices like internal information and consultation processes, internal (formal or informal) rules and structures for the organisation and decision-making within the party, and transparency in the party’s functioning at all levels. Party members may also take on more formal roles in decision-making like participating in internal elections for leadership positions or in selecting the party’s candidate(s) in the upcoming elections. Many parties also work actively to enhance the role of traditionally under-represented groups in their parties.

Independent candidates

Many legal frameworks allow persons to register and contest the elections even if they are not nominated by a political party. The role of independent candidates is more important in countries with Majority/Plurality electoral systems than in those with Proportional systems, but there can be a role for independent candidates in most PR systems as well. Even if independent candidates cannot contest an election, there might still be persons in the legislature who are no longer affiliated with a political party. Countries have different rules as to what happens to a parliamentary seat if the person who holds it leaves or is expelled from his or her political party. In some countries, the representative can keep the seat, while in others the seat is filled by the political party, remains vacant, or is filled through a by-election.

Key stakeholders in elections

Political parties and candidates are key stakeholders in elections. They are the ones competing for public office, carrying out election campaigns, and trying to convince persons to vote for them. Ultimately, the possibilities for them to campaign, assume public office, or form a credible opposition depend on the legal, political, and cultural environment in the country, and on the administration and outcome of the elections. From another perspective, the final validation of the election result is in practice in the hands of the political parties and candidates. If they do not accept the results due to real or perceived electoral fraud or irregularities, the legitimacy of the resulting legislature or government is threatened.

Parties and candidates are also actors that have the potential to be destructive. Practices of vote-buying or illegal party finance, the proliferation of defamation and hate speech in campaigns, voter intimidation by party workers, corruption in decision-making, and the systematic exclusion of certain sectors of the society constitute examples of where political parties threaten the functioning of democratic systems rather than support it. Laws and regulations regarding campaigning, funding, and functioning of political parties are developed to minimize the potential disruptive influence of political parties while still allowing them enough freedom to contest elections.

Parties and candidates in power

Depending on electoral success, political parties and candidates will come to form the government or legislative opposition of a country. The electoral system is an important factor determining how votes cast translate into mandates, but the choices of parties and candidates in campaigning, coalition-building, and pre-electoral alliances also have an impact on the final result. The ties between elected representatives and their political parties, the internal functioning of their parties, and the training and resources available to them help shape legislation, budgets, and government policies.

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