Originally posted by Solmyr
The problem with coalition governments (which most European countries have) is that the parties in them often have to bargain away too many of their principles in order to be included, which means that they won't be able to do what they promised in the elections.
The parties aren't able to do what they promise during elections in the two-party system we have here in the U.S. either, (even when one party controls all three branches of government and both Houses of Congress, as is the case now) so I don't agree that this a "problem with coalition governments" but is rather a problem associated with any government where decisions are made via a political process. That is to say, the only time a party could fulfil its campaign promises is if it put into office an honest dictator.