Coattail Agreement

Singapore introduced the RCMP system in 1969, where candidates run for Parliament and are elected from a list of 3 to 6 candidates in some constituencies, with at least one minority candidate on each list. The so-called objective was to ensure the representation of minorities in Parliament. It has, however, given rise to a “coattail effect”, where unpopular and even unknown candidates are elected because they ran on the same slate with popular candidates (usually ministers). [7] The “Coattail effect” has also been used to pejoratively describe the effect of Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) in Singapore, where candidates for Parliament run on a list of 3 to 6 candidates. This allows weak candidates to be elected “straddled the mantle” by strong candidates on their slate.

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