2020 Scalizagastian federal election

2020 Scalizagastian federal election

August 22, 2020
All 516 seats in the Parliament of Scalizagasti 260 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Sarah Millard Michel Garon Thomas Smith Party Social Democratic Party Revolutionary Republican Party Green Party of Scalizagasti Leader since 26 January 2015 21 December 2015 3 November 2007 Leader's seat Bewundal East Maldati South Torlu Last election 154 seats, 26.5% 160 seats, 28.0% 83 seats, 14.0% Seats before 154 160 83 Seats won 231 111 60 Seat change 77 49 23 Percentage 42.1% 19.8% 10.1% Swing 15.6pp 8.2pp 3.9pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Les Erlosto Moe Trellos Ester Nortust Party New Scalizagasti Party Liberal-Conservative Alliance Labour and Socialist Party Leader since 16 September 2018 8 August 2017 1 June 2010 Leader's seat Jurein North Islander Group Outer Blicamy Last election 54 seats, 9.3% 21 seats, 5.3% 20 seats, 4.2% Seats before 54 21 20 Seats won 60 19 17 Seat change 4 2 3 Percentage 9.0% 4.7% 3.3% Swing 0.3pp 0.6pp 0.9pp   Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party   Leader Steve Pertillo Guy Manderson Curtis Soeder Party Patriotic Defense Movement Progressive People's Party Aulden Democratic Party Leader since 18 March 2015 9 June 2012 19 January 2008 Leader's seat Palgaroca Interior (lost re-election) Saroya Region Badger Valley Last election 14 seats, 3.6% 6 seats, 2.3% 3 seats, 2.1% Seats before 14 6 3 Seats won 14 8 5 Seat change 0 2 2 Percentage 3.5% 2.4% 1.8% Swing 0.1pp 0.1pp 0.3pp
Prime Minister before election Sarah Millard SDP Prime Minister after election Sarah Millard SDP

The 2020 Scalizagastian federal election was held on August 22, 2020, to elect 516 members of the Parliament of Scalizagasti. Prior to the election, the Social Democratic Party, led by Prime Minister Sarah Millard, governed Scalizagasti in a coalition with the Greens, LSP, and PPP. It was the second election for Millard as SDP leader and first election as the incumbent Prime Minister.

With 42.1% of the popular vote and 231 seats, the SDP won one of the largest parliamentary victories in Scalizagastian history. Up 77 seats from 2016, Prime Minister Millard formed government with a SDP-Green coalition, no longer needing the LSP and PPP as they did previously. The large gains by the SDP mostly came at the expense of the RRP and Greens, dropping by 8 and 4 points of support respectively. With exception to the SDP and PPP, every party dropped in support, although marginal regional gains allowed the ADP to pick up 2 additional seats. All ten parties which had a presence after the 2016 election returned to Parliament.

Background

Following the 2016 federal election, the SDP managed to form a governing coalition with the Greens, LSP, and PPP, despite only winning 154 seats to the RRP's 160. The 2016 election gave the left-wing parties (SDP, Greens, and LSP) a large enough seat share to govern with support from the agrarian centrist Progressives. As the largest party, the RRP was given the first opportunity to negotiate a coalition, but the SDP-Green-LSP-PPP coalition presented their agreement in the middle of coalition talks, forcing the President to recall Parliament before the RRP had finished their negotiations.

The 2016 election also led to the collapse of Scalizagasti's right-wing parties. The NSP, Alliance, and PDM all suffered severe defeats from earlier elections, where they managed to consistently form government for over a decade. Anger over austerity measures enacted by the conservative government led to success for the centrist RRP, centre-left SDP, and left-wing Greens.

WIP

During the 2020 CAVID-19 outbreak in the Great Experiment, the SDP's quick and effective response boosted their popularity, eventually skyrocketing them to over 50% support. Prime Minister Millard enjoyed a net personal popularity rate of +58 points (76 positive/18 negative/6 no opinion). Ultimately, the Rally 'round the flag effect created by the CAVID-19 pandemic allowed the SDP to gain immense support during the election.

Electoral System

The 516 members of Parliament are elected by open party-list proportional representation in multi-member constituencies. Seats are allocated using the Sainte-Laguë method, with a 3% threshold for parties and a 1.5% threshold for independents.

480 seats are elected in 46 geographical electoral districts, ranging anywhere from 5 to 19 seats per electorate. The other 36 seats are elected through a national list, where each of Scalizagasti's six recognized ethnic groups (officially documented in the census) vote for 6 seats each. If a party wins 260 or more seats, they can govern without forming any coalition. However, this is incredibly rare due to Scalizagasti's proportional electoral system adopted in the early 20th century.

Election Date

The date of the election, 13 August 2020, was set by President Paul Kruig following the dissolution of Parliament.

Unless an early election is called by the government or no government can be formed following the failure of a confidence vote, a general election is held every four years. The last election was held on 22 August 2016. According to the 2000 Election Law, unless an early election is called, the general election must be held in August.

Polls close in electorates at 7:00 PM local time, and results are usually released a few hours later. However, recounts and other unexpected issues have previously caused vote count delays for up to 24 hours.

Results

WIP

Aftermath

WIP