Political coalition

See also: Umbrella organization and alliance

A political coalition or political alliance is an agreement for cooperation between different political parties on common political agenda, often for purposes of contesting an election to mutually benefit by collectively clearing election thresholds or otherwise benefiting from characteristics of the voting system or for government formation after elections.

A coalition government is formed when a political alliance comes to power, or when only a plurality (not a majority) has not been reached and several parties must work together to govern. One of the peculiarities of such a method of governance results in Minister of State without Portfolio.

List of political alliances

• Australia: Coalition
• Chile: Concertacion, Alliance for Chile, Juntos PODEMOS Más
• Germany: Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union of Bavaria
• Greece: Coalition of the Radical Left
• Hong Kong: Pan-democrats
• India: Left Front, National Democratic Alliance (NDA), United Progressive Alliance (UPA), United National Progressive Alliance
• Italy: House of Freedoms (former), The Union (former), The Olive Tree (former), The Left – The Rainbow (former), Pole of the Nation
• Lebanon: March 14 Alliance, March 8 Alliance
• Montenegro: Coalition for a European Montenegro, Together for Change, Serb List
• Japan: Liberal Democratic Party/New Komeito Party
• Serbia: Democratic Opposition of Serbia
• Republic of China (Taiwan): Pan-Blue Coalition, Pan-Green Coalition
• Russia: The Other Russia
• Spain: Convergence and Union
• Sweden: Alliance for Sweden, Red-Greens (former)
• United Kingdom: SDP–Liberal Alliance, 1981–8 alliance of the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party, which preceded the Liberal Democrats
• United Kingdom: Conservative Party-Liberal Democrats 2010: (Con-Lib) Coalition