Formateur

A formateur is a politician who is appointed by the head of state to lead the formation of a coalition government, after either a general election or the collapse of a previous government. The role of the formateur is especially important in the politics of Belgium, The Netherlands] , Israel, and the Czech Republic. These countries have a parliamentary system, where the executive is elected by the legislature. They also use proportional representation for elections to parliament, and do not have a two-party system, so coalition governments are common. There may be several combinations of parties which might form a coalition.

The formateur most often comes from the largest party in the future coalition (although an even larger party may remain in the opposition) and generally becomes the new head of government if the formation succeeds. In a constitutional monarchy, this appointment is an exercise of reserve power, and is one of the rare moments when an otherwise powerless monarch still may play a significant political role.

In game theory and political science, the term "formateur party" is used to describe the party that makes a proposal in a bargaining process, most often when modeling a government formation.

Informateur

The formateur's work may be preceded by one or more "informateur"s, also appointed by the head of state. The informateur is not expected to finalize a coalition, but attempts to find enough points of agreement to identify a likely coalition, from which a formateur is then selected. The informateur should be someone not otherwise considered for ministerial office, although some do obtain a portfolio in the future government. The role is often filled by an experienced, retired statesperson, often a former government minister or party leader.

These positions are not described in any law, but they tend to become part of political tradition. Informateurs have become customary in Belgium and the Netherlands since the 1950s.

Belgium

In Belgian political parties, nearly identical political ideologies are represented by distinct parties for each language. This may lead to coalitions of four or more parties. The post of informateur became too prestigious to risk failure, so new terms for essentially the same task were introduced, such as "royal mediator" and "explorer" after the 2007 Belgian government formation failed for months to produce a clear prospect for a majority.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the coalition usually comprises two or three parties.

The informateur, who researches the possible coalition options before a new cabinet is formed, is often a veteran politician, member of the "Eerste Kamer" or Council of State. Often the informateur presides over talks with possible coalition partners, leading to a communal program, the coalition agreement. Sometimes, after the formation of a cabinet, the informateur becomes a minister.] Piet Hein Donner was the informateur of the Balkenende-I cabinet.

Often the formateur presides over the talks about the ministerial positions that are held between the parties that have already established a "regeerakkoord". The formateur is appointed by the monarch. As the leader of the largest party, the formateur usually becomes prime minister. Jan Peter Balkenende was the formateur of the Balkenende-II cabinet.

ubnational government

In provincial and municipal politics, a formateur can also be appointed. In the past, the negotiations were led by the largest party; but especially in tough negotiations, a formateur is appointed to be a "chairman" during the negotiations which is somewhat more neutral. The difference with a formateur on national level is that this local formateur does not report to the queen, but to the mayor (municipal) or the Queen's Commissioner (provincial).

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