what is a coalition government

A coalition government is a form of government in which two or more political parties cooperate to form a government. It is formed when no single political party gains a clear majority in the parliament or national assembly. The largest party in parliament may seek a coalition agreement with a smaller party with similar ideological positions in order to form a stable government. Coalition governments usually are a temporary alliance. Members of all parties in a coalition government are appointed to a cabinet. Coalition governments might also be created in a time of national difficulty or crisis, such as during wartime or economic crisis, to give a government the high degree of perceived political legitimacy or collective identity, and it can also play a role in diminishing internal political strife. If a coalition collapses, the Prime Minister and cabinet may be ousted by a vote of no confidence, call snap elections, form a new majority coalition, or continue as a minority government. Advocates of proportional representation suggest that a coalition government leads to more consensus-based politics, as a government comprising differing parties (often based on different ideologies) need to compromise about governmental policy.