In eight of the ten post-Communist countries now seeking admission to the European Union the representation threshold is 5%, which it also is in the Russian Federation. In Bulgaria the threshold is 4% and in Slovenia, 3%. A higher threshold for blocs or coalitions of parties is frequently found in the region - but not at the levels specified here, and it may not be a wise arrangement. For example, in Romania a two-party bloc has a threshold of 8%, with 1% added for each additional member of the bloc. In Slovakia, a two or three-party bloc has a threshold of 7%; and for four or more parties it is 10%. In the Czech Republic the threshold rises steeply from 5 percent for a single party to 10% for a two-party coalition, 15% for 3 parties and 20% for four parties. Minority ethnic groups are sometimes catered for by establishing different and lower thresholds or by reserving a small number of seats (Table 1).
Table 1.- Proportional representation thresholds
Year
Country
Threshold for seats (%)
PR Index (%)
1
2
3+ parties
2000
Slovenia
3-a
3
3
97
2001
Poland
5-b
8
8
91
1999
Estonia
5
5
5
90
2002
Hungary
5
5
5
89
2001
Bulgaria
4
4
4
86
2002
Czech R
5
10
15-c
85
2002
Latvia
5
5
5
84
2001
Slovakia
5-d
7
7
82
2000
Romania
5
8
9-d
82
2000
Lithuania
5
7
7
78
1999
Russia
5
5
5
78
MOLDOVA
6
9
12
72
(Proportionality Index: 100% equals exact match share of votes and seats)
a. Two seats reserved for ethnic minorities.
b. No threshold for minority parties.
c. And 20% for four parties.
d. For a coalition of four or more parties, 10%.
e. Guaranteed representation for minority parties.
Source: Calculated from official electoral data to be reported in Richard Rose and Neil Munro, Elections and Parties in New European Democracies. Washington DC: Congressional Quarterly Press, forthcoming, spring, 2003.