In Italy (but not just Italy), there are very real philosophical differences between the parties in the coalitions. On one side you still have real, unrepentant communists, on the other side, you have Alessandra Mussolini active in politics.
What often occurs is that the big center left/right party has, say, 45%, and needs a minor party (that polled, say, 6%) to push them over 50%. The minor party then gets to hold the bigger party hostage: we want this, this, and this or else there is no deal. This gives the minor party a share of power all out of proportion to their actual percentage of the vote.
What often occurs is that the big center left/right party has, say, 45%, and needs a minor party (that polled, say, 6%) to push them over 50%. The minor party then gets to hold the bigger party hostage: we want this, this, and this or else there is no deal. This gives the minor party a share of power all out of proportion to their actual percentage of the vote.