Talking Point joins with BBC World Service Radio's Europewide to discuss proportional representation.

Listen to both sides of the debate click here

Germany finally has a new government, a month after the elections -- a coalition between the SPD and the Greens.

Some say the Greens have more power than warranted by their share of the vote.

In Italy, thousands demonstrated in Rome against their new governing coalition, formed by political negotiations and not through the ballot box.

Both countries operate forms of proportional representation.

The Jenkins Commission in the UK will soon be reporting their findings, having been given 12 months to come up with an alternative to first-past-the-post for Westminster.

Click here to read BBC News Online's full background on the Jenkins Report

Is PR fair? And is a "first-past-the-post" system any better?

The anti-reform camp say proportional representation could be dangerously destabilising.

Elections held under first-past-the-post usually produce a clear winner, giving one party an overall majority of seat and therefore firm political direction.

Electoral reformers, meanwhile, say it is a winner-takes-all system that leads to unrepresentative government on minority votes.

They think proportional representation gives smaller parties a realistic chance of winning seats, and would encourage parties with similar views to work together rather than constantly attacking each other.

What do you think?

Proportional representation: Does it really give power to the people?

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