Presidentialization of Parliamentary system

• Diminished role of the legislature: The concentration of power with the Prime Minister’s office can reduce the role of elected representatives in policymaking.

• Example: Criminal Code Bills passed in Lok Sabha without any substantial debate owing to the suspension of 143 Opposition members following protests over the recent security breach..

• Risk of authoritarianism: Reduced collective responsibility creates an imbalance in the checks and balance system which can lead to authoritarianism of the executive.

• Example: The reign of Benjamin Netanyahu saw concentration of power with the leader and domination within the Likud party

• Tendency towards populism: The focus on the leader’s image and popularity can lead to populist short-term policies which can harm the democratic credentials in the future.

• Example: The rise of Indira Gandhi was accelerated by populist policies which served little benefit for India in the long run.

• Weakening of intra-party democracy: The power concentration within a party can reduce internal democracy which prevents the rise of new leaders.

• Example: Concentration of power with the Nehru family has reduced intra-party democracy within Congress.

• Influence on regional parties: Representatives from regional parties will not have the opportunity to raise their demands which weakens democracy.

• Example: The presence of Nehru in Congress made them highly superior and affected the growth of regional parties in the 1950's.

Cohabitation form of government

Cohabitation is a form of government where the President and the Prime Minister come from different political parties, and they are required to share executive power. This can arise when the President is elected separately from the legislature and the majority party in the legislature selects the Prime Minister. France, which follows a semi-presidential model, is an example of a cohabitation form of government.