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The federal arena is no longer the royal path
9/16/15

The elected representative on the move

European councilThis decree of 2014 against holding multiple-office holding has led to more level-hopping movements than usual in Wallonia. As a general rule, an elected representative from the south of the country is the one on the move. In twenty years no less than 8 elections have taken place offering many opportunities for new political careers. This is a throwback to the composition of electoral lists which favour local champions (being a mayor or alderman facilitates mobility by offering a fallback post). These become active during elections and do not remain in a post for a long period.

Make no mistake: while some leading lights seem to have long careers, many of these political careers are very short. Half of all elected representatives do not exceed two successive terms in office. The average is even less than one legislative term. It is mostly the leading figures who last and who conduct level-hopping movements between tiers of government. This observation is also valid for Catalonia. In Scotland, on the other hand, the turnover is lower. The electoral system has given rise to a new situation. The candidate who is elected is he or she with the most votes. Here, candidates are put ahead of the electoral list. No substitutes exist. He who would wish to retire before the end of a term will only be replaced after the organization of a by-election. The risk of losing a seat to the benefit of another party is therefore real.

The party decides

In any event, elected representatives do not always have a choice. Certainly, personal reasons can also play a role. Jérémy Dodeigne cites for example newly elected Belgian MPs who had held seats in the federal parliament in 2007-2008 and who then preferred to return to the region in the elections of 2009 following the crisis that occurred at that time. Some female representatives (particularly in Scotland and Catalonia) prefer the regional assembly because they can be near their family which would not be the case if they had to return to the capital every day.

But homo politicus must often bend to the directives issued by his party which will play its cards based on several parameters.  Geographical balance, cultural diversity, parity between men and women, party factions which must all be satisfied (like the era when the “Renaissance” clan led a revolt in the MR, or when the PSC evolved into the CDH)… “In Belgium as elsewhere, politicians do not go where they want”, says the researcher. “In our country, in 2014, the percentage of federal candidates who would have liked to be elsewhere was higher. Having said that, even when people are not where they would wish to be, they recognize that the tier of government they find themselves at is important, that it counts for something”.

And yet, are those who would prefer to be elsewhere more efficient or involved? Do they fight as they would have done had they obtained the post that they were initially looking for? That remains to be determined… “Up to now, I have tried to explain careers, but in future research I would like to verify whether the career can explain certain things such as the defense of particular projects, motivation etc.”  The political scientist would similarly like to focus on the future of territories that are less exposed to ethno-national identity, as well as in political system where federalism has been established for a long time, like Canada, Australia and the United States.

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