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Political parties are a cornerstone of representative democracy and serve a function like no other institution. Democratic political parties contest and seek to win elections in order to govern and manage government institutions. They offer alternative public policy proposals which are shaped by citizens’ preferences.
Political parties – through their candidates running for elections – provide citizens with political options to select their preferred party and candidate. In democracies, political parties ensure that elections are genuine expressions of the people’s will. Furthermore, they perform essential functions in between elections.
They are a vital connecting link between state and society at national and particularly at local level. They carry out a political leadership role a modern democracy cannot function without. As much as citizens’ initiatives and social movements are necessary for political innovation, opposition and criticism, ultimately, they depend very much on the parties and elected representatives who carry the responsibility to translate their demands into actual legislative proposals.
When not part of the governing party (coalition), democratic parties provide a constructive and critical opposition by presenting themselves as the alternative government voters may wish to choose – thus pressuring the incumbents to be more responsive to the public’s interests.
The expression of conflicting views can actually help to create a better understanding of the issues and to identify solutions. Outside election periods, democratic parties also offer citizens opportunities to participate in political life and encourage active links between citizens and those who represent them.
Unataka ENoP katika Inbox yako? "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""*"" inaonyesha mashamba yanayohitajika: vyama vya siasa ni jiwe la msingi la demokrasia ya uwakilishi na hutumikia kazi kama hakuna taasisi nyingine." Vyama vya siasa vya kidemokrasia vinashindana na kutafuta kushinda uchaguzi ili kutawala na kusimamia taasisi za serikali. Wao kutoa mapendekezo mbadala ya sera ya umma ambayo ni umbo na upendeleo wa wananchi. Vyama vya siasa <unk> kupitia wagombea wao wanaoshindana katika uchaguzi <unk> huwapa wananchi chaguzi za kisiasa za kuchagua chama na mgombea wanaopendelea. Katika demokrasia, vyama vya siasa huhakikisha kwamba uchaguzi ni usemi wa kweli wa mapenzi ya watu. Zaidi ya hayo, wao kufanya kazi muhimu kati ya uchaguzi. Wao ni kiungo muhimu cha kuunganisha kati ya serikali na jamii katika ngazi ya kitaifa na hasa katika ngazi ya mitaa. Wao kutekeleza jukumu la uongozi wa kisiasa demokrasia ya kisasa haiwezi kufanya kazi bila. Ingawa mipango ya wananchi na harakati za kijamii ni muhimu kwa ajili ya uvumbuzi wa kisiasa, upinzani na ukosoaji, hatimaye, zinategemea sana vyama na wawakilishi waliochaguliwa ambao hubeba jukumu la kutafsiri madai yao katika mapendekezo halisi ya kisheria. Wakati si sehemu ya chama tawala (mshirika), vyama vya kidemokrasia kutoa upinzani kujenga na muhimu kwa kuwasilisha wenyewe kama serikali mbadala wapiga kura wanaweza kutaka kuchagua - hivyo kushinikiza incumbents kuwa zaidi ya kujibu maslahi ya umma. Kueleza maoni yanayopingana kwa kweli kunaweza kusaidia kuunda uelewa bora wa masuala na kutambua suluhisho. Nje ya vipindi vya uchaguzi, vyama vya kidemokrasia pia hutoa fursa kwa wananchi kushiriki katika maisha ya kisiasa na kuhamasisha viungo vya kazi kati ya wananchi na wale wanaowakilisha.