Quote:
Originally Posted by Slava
It might be something that the public would decry, and in the court of public opinion it would be a train wreck (IMO), but you can definitely have a coalition under our system. This is why Harper and Trudeau talking on this topic earlier in the campaign was so hilarious. We're into nerd poli sci stuff here, but they're both just plain wrong.
Harper can make the assertion that "whoever wins the most seats in the election wins", but its just not the case. While the rules almost always follow that convention, they don't have to. Its whoever has the confidence of the house, and that's it. It was strange to me that a couple of people wanting to be PM failed to acknowledge a pretty basic concept about the job. I mean sure if you asked the average guy on the street they might have no idea, but these two are in government and its kind of important to know how you form these things.
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Absolutely, but it's hard to spin a scenario where the PM's office doesn't go to a party who wins the most seats, unless it's the current government (in this case CPC). With Harper on record as standing down if the CPC doesn't win the most seats, it's really unlikely. I suppose if the CPC had a wonder candidate, Harper could step aside and have them act as PM - but there is no one. I guess if the NDP won more seats but the Liberals had more popular vote it would be bit of a potential nightmare.
Regardless, I don't think Canada has ever had a reasonably even three way split like we are likely to see this time, so who knows how it may play out in the end.