The South African ruling party ANC plans to work with all parties represented in Parliament after losing its absolute majority in the recent general election. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that they want to invite all political parties to form a Government the National Unit to move the country forward. The ANC only had 159 of the 400 seats in parliament at the election and can therefore no longer govern alone. The newly elected parliamentarians must form a government and elect a president by the end of the week.
The idea of a government of national unity involves cooperation with all parties represented in parliament. This form of grand coalition is intended to take into account and represent the interests of all voters. The ANC could thus avoid having to commit itself to a single coalition partner, such as the economically liberal Democratic Alliance. Nevertheless, there is a risk that a government of national unity will be neither stable nor capable of consensus, say analysts.
The general election in late May marked a historic turning point, as the ANC lost its absolute majority for the first time in 30 years. The party once led by Nelson Mandela finds itself in a new political situation that requires broader cooperation. The formation of a government of national unity would be a step towards political consensus-building and cooperation across party lines.
Source: nachrichten.ag
