Minority government
Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:41:59 PM Wikipedia source
A minority government, minority cabinet, minority administration, or a minority parliament is a government and cabinet formed in a parliamentary system when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the legislature. It is sworn into office, with or without the formal support of other parties, enabling a government to be formed. Under such a government, legislation can only be passed with the support or consent of enough other members of the legislature to provide a majority, encouraging multi-partisanship. In bicameral legislatures, the term relates to the situation in the chamber whose confidence is considered most crucial to the continuance in office of the government (generally, the lower house). A minority government tends to be less stable than a majority government because, if they can unite, opposing parliamentary members have sufficient numbers to vote against legislation, or even bring down the government with a vote of no confidence. If, however, a minority government can negotiate a confidence and supply agreement with parties sufficient to maintain a majority, it can be as stable as a majority government.
Tables
· Coalitions and alliances › France
Government
Government
Period
Government
Government head
Support
Parties
Total
1988-1991
1988-1991
Period
1988-1991
Government head
Michel Rocard
Parties
PS
Seats
275
Seats
47.7%
Seats
41
Seats
316/577
Seats
54.8%
1991-1992
1991-1992
Period
1991-1992
Government head
Édith Cresson
Parties
PS
Seats
275
Seats
47.7%
Seats
0
Seats
275/577
Seats
47.7%
1992-1993
1992-1993
Period
1992-1993
Government head
Pierre Bérégovoy
Parties
PS
Seats
275
Seats
47.7%
Seats
0
Seats
275/577
Seats
47.7%
2022–2024
2022–2024
Period
2022–2024
Government head
Élisabeth Borne
Parties
RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !)
Seats
251
Seats
43.5%
Seats
0
Seats
251/577
Seats
43.5%
2024
2024
Period
2024
Government head
Gabriel Attal
Parties
RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !)
Seats
250
Seats
43.3%
Seats
0
Seats
250/577
Seats
43.3%
2024
2024
Period
2024
Government head
Michel Barnier
Parties
RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !) – LR – UDI – PR
Seats
212
Seats
36.9%
Seats
0
Seats
212/577
Seats
36.9%
2024–2025
2024–2025
Period
2024–2025
Government head
François Bayrou
Parties
RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !) – LR – UDI – PR
Seats
212
Seats
36.9%
Seats
0
Seats
166/577
Seats
36.9%
2025–present
2025–present
Period
2025–present
Government head
Sébastien Lecornu
Parties
RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !)
Seats
166
Seats
28.8%
Seats
49
Seats
215/577
Seats
37.2%
| Period | Government head | Parties | Seats | ||||
| Government | Support | Total | |||||
| 1988-1991 | Michel Rocard | PS | 275 | 47.7% | 41 | 316/577 | 54.8% |
| 1991-1992 | Édith Cresson | PS | 275 | 47.7% | 0 | 275/577 | 47.7% |
| 1992-1993 | Pierre Bérégovoy | PS | 275 | 47.7% | 0 | 275/577 | 47.7% |
| 2022–2024 | Élisabeth Borne | RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !) | 251 | 43.5% | 0 | 251/577 | 43.5% |
| 2024 | Gabriel Attal | RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !) | 250 | 43.3% | 0 | 250/577 | 43.3% |
| 2024 | Michel Barnier | RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !) – LR – UDI – PR | 212 | 36.9% | 0 | 212/577 | 36.9% |
| 2024–2025 | François Bayrou | RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !) – LR – UDI – PR | 212 | 36.9% | 0 | 166/577 | 36.9% |
| 2025–present | Sébastien Lecornu | RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !) | 166 | 28.8% | 49 | 215/577 | 37.2% |
Countries and sub-national entities with a minority government as of 11 December 2025 · List of current minority governments
Government
Government
Country
Government
Head of government
Support
Legislature
Total
Countries
Countries
Country
Countries
Brazil[dubious – discuss]
Brazil[dubious – discuss]
Country
Brazil[dubious – discuss]
Head of government
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Legislature
National Congress
Parties
PT – PSB – PSOL – Avante – PCdoB – PV – Solidariedade – REDE
Seats
123
Seats
24%
Seats
88
Seats
211/513
Seats
41.17%
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Country
Bulgaria
Head of government
Rosen Zhelyazkov
Legislature
National Assembly
Parties
GERB/SDS – BSPOL – ITN
Seats
102
Seats
42.5%
Seats
0
Seats
135/240
Seats
56.3%
Croatia
Croatia
Country
Croatia
Head of government
Andrej Plenković
Legislature
Croatian Parliament
Parties
HDZ – DP
Seats
66
Seats
44.0%
Seats
12
Seats
78/150
Seats
52.0%
Denmark
Denmark
Country
Denmark
Head of government
Mette Frederiksen
Legislature
Folketing
Parties
A – V – M
Seats
86
Seats
48.0%
Seats
4
Seats
90/179
Seats
50.3%
France
France
Country
France
Head of government
Sébastien Lecornu
Legislature
National Assembly
Parties
RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !)
Seats
166
Seats
28.8%
Seats
49
Seats
215/577
Seats
37.2%
India
India
Country
India
Head of government
Narendra Modi
Legislature
Lok Sabha
Parties
BJP – TDP – JD(U) & others (NDA)
Seats
240
Seats
44.20%
Seats
53
Seats
293/543
Seats
53.96%
Iran
Iran
Country
Iran
Head of government
Masoud Pezeshkian
Legislature
Islamic Consultative Assembly
Parties
Reformists
Seats
43
Seats
14.8%
Seats
119
Seats
162/290
Seats
55.8%
Norway
Norway
Country
Norway
Head of government
Jonas Gahr Støre
Legislature
Storting
Parties
A/Ap
Seats
48
Seats
28.4%
Seats
0
Seats
48/169
Seats
28.4%
Portugal
Portugal
Country
Portugal
Head of government
Luís Montenegro
Legislature
Assembly of the Republic
Parties
PPD/PSD – CDS-PP (AD)
Seats
91
Seats
39.6%
Seats
0
Seats
91/230
Seats
39.6%
Spain
Spain
Country
Spain
Head of government
Pedro Sánchez
Legislature
Congress of Deputies
Parties
PSOE – Sumar
Seats
147
Seats
42.0%
Seats
32
Seats
179/350
Seats
51.1%
Sweden
Sweden
Country
Sweden
Head of government
Ulf Kristersson
Legislature
Riksdag
Parties
M – KD – L
Seats
103
Seats
29.5%
Seats
73
Seats
176/349
Seats
50.4%
Taiwan
Taiwan
Country
Taiwan
Head of government
Cho Jung-tai
Legislature
Legislative Yuan
Parties
DPP
Seats
51
Seats
45.1%
Seats
0
Seats
51/113
Seats
45.1%
Sub-national
Sub-national
Country
Sub-national
Asturias
Asturias
Country
Asturias
Head of government
Adrián Barbón
Legislature
General Junta
Parties
FSA-PSOE
Seats
19
Seats
42.2%
Seats
4
Seats
23/45
Seats
51.1%
Azores
Azores
Country
Azores
Head of government
José Manuel Bolieiro
Legislature
Legislative Assembly of the Azores
Parties
PPD/PSD – CDS–PP – PPM
Seats
26
Seats
45.6%
Seats
3
Seats
29/57
Seats
50.9%
Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
Country
Balearic Islands
Head of government
Marga Prohens
Legislature
Parliament of the Balearic Islands
Parties
PP
Seats
25
Seats
42.3%
Seats
9
Seats
34/59
Seats
57.6%
Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Country
Brandenburg
Head of government
Dietmar Woidke
Legislature
Landtag of Brandenburg
Parties
SPD – BSW
Seats
42
Seats
47.7%
Seats
4
Seats
46/88
Seats
52.3%
Catalonia
Catalonia
Country
Catalonia
Head of government
Salvador Illa
Legislature
Parliament of Catalonia
Parties
PSC
Seats
42
Seats
31.1%
Seats
26
Seats
68/135
Seats
50.4%
Murcia
Murcia
Country
Murcia
Head of government
Fernando López Miras
Legislature
Assembly of Murcia
Parties
PP
Seats
21
Seats
46.6%
Seats
9
Seats
30/45
Seats
66.6%
Navarre
Navarre
Country
Navarre
Head of government
María Chivite
Legislature
Parliament of Navarre
Parties
PSN – GBai – Podemos
Seats
21
Seats
42.0%
Seats
9
Seats
30/50
Seats
60.0%
Saxony
Saxony
Country
Saxony
Head of government
Michael Kretschmer
Legislature
Landtag of Saxony
Parties
CDU – SPD
Seats
51
Seats
42.5%
Seats
0
Seats
51/120
Seats
42.5%
New South Wales
New South Wales
Country
New South Wales
Head of government
Chris Minns
Legislature
Legislative Assembly
Parties
Labor
Seats
45
Seats
48.4%
Seats
3
Seats
48/93
Seats
51.6%
Scotland
Scotland
Country
Scotland
Head of government
John Swinney
Legislature
Scottish Parliament
Parties
SNP
Seats
64
Seats
49.6%
Seats
0
Seats
64/129
Seats
49.6%
Thuringia
Thuringia
Country
Thuringia
Head of government
Mario Voigt
Legislature
Landtag of Thuringia
Parties
CDU – BSW – SPD
Seats
44
Seats
50.0%
Seats
0
Seats
44/88
Seats
50.0%
Wales
Wales
Country
Wales
Head of government
Eluned Morgan
Legislature
Senedd
Parties
Labour
Seats
29
Seats
48.3%
Seats
0
Seats
29/60
Seats
48.3%
Yukon
Yukon
Country
Yukon
Head of government
Ranj Pillai
Legislature
Legislative Assembly
Parties
Liberal
Seats
8
Seats
42.1%
Seats
3
Seats
11/19
Seats
57.9%
| Country | Head of government | Legislature | Parties | Seats | ||||
| Government | Support | Total | ||||||
| Countries | ||||||||
| Brazil[dubious – discuss] | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva | National Congress | PT – PSB – PSOL – Avante – PCdoB – PV – Solidariedade – REDE | 123 | 24% | 88 | 211/513 | 41.17% |
| Bulgaria | Rosen Zhelyazkov | National Assembly | GERB/SDS – BSPOL – ITN | 102 | 42.5% | 0 | 135/240 | 56.3% |
| Canada | Mark Carney | House of Commons | LPC | 170 | 49.6% | 0 | 170/343 | 49.6% |
| Croatia | Andrej Plenković | Croatian Parliament | HDZ – DP | 66 | 44.0% | 12 | 78/150 | 52.0% |
| Denmark | Mette Frederiksen | Folketing | A – V – M | 86 | 48.0% | 4 | 90/179 | 50.3% |
| France | Sébastien Lecornu | National Assembly | RE – MoDem – HOR (Ensemble !) | 166 | 28.8% | 49 | 215/577 | 37.2% |
| India | Narendra Modi | Lok Sabha | BJP – TDP – JD(U) & others (NDA) | 240 | 44.20% | 53 | 293/543 | 53.96% |
| Iran | Masoud Pezeshkian | Islamic Consultative Assembly | Reformists | 43 | 14.8% | 119 | 162/290 | 55.8% |
| Japan | Sanae Takaichi | House of Representatives | LDP | 196 | 42.2% | 35 | 231/465 | 49.7% |
| Norway | Jonas Gahr Støre | Storting | A/Ap | 48 | 28.4% | 0 | 48/169 | 28.4% |
| Portugal | Luís Montenegro | Assembly of the Republic | PPD/PSD – CDS-PP (AD) | 91 | 39.6% | 0 | 91/230 | 39.6% |
| Spain | Pedro Sánchez | Congress of Deputies | PSOE – Sumar | 147 | 42.0% | 32 | 179/350 | 51.1% |
| Sweden | Ulf Kristersson | Riksdag | M – KD – L | 103 | 29.5% | 73 | 176/349 | 50.4% |
| Taiwan | Cho Jung-tai | Legislative Yuan | DPP | 51 | 45.1% | 0 | 51/113 | 45.1% |
| Thailand | Anutin Charnvirakul | House of Representatives | BJT – UTN – KT – PPRP – PT – TST – Democrat – NDP. – TL – TPG | 170 | 29.8% | 142 | 312/495 | 57.7% |
| Sub-national | ||||||||
| Asturias | Adrián Barbón | General Junta | FSA-PSOE | 19 | 42.2% | 4 | 23/45 | 51.1% |
| Azores | José Manuel Bolieiro | Legislative Assembly of the Azores | PPD/PSD – CDS–PP – PPM | 26 | 45.6% | 3 | 29/57 | 50.9% |
| Balearic Islands | Marga Prohens | Parliament of the Balearic Islands | PP | 25 | 42.3% | 9 | 34/59 | 57.6% |
| Brandenburg | Dietmar Woidke | Landtag of Brandenburg | SPD – BSW | 42 | 47.7% | 4 | 46/88 | 52.3% |
| Catalonia | Salvador Illa | Parliament of Catalonia | PSC | 42 | 31.1% | 26 | 68/135 | 50.4% |
| Murcia | Fernando López Miras | Assembly of Murcia | PP | 21 | 46.6% | 9 | 30/45 | 66.6% |
| Navarre | María Chivite | Parliament of Navarre | PSN – GBai – Podemos | 21 | 42.0% | 9 | 30/50 | 60.0% |
| Saxony | Michael Kretschmer | Landtag of Saxony | CDU – SPD | 51 | 42.5% | 0 | 51/120 | 42.5% |
| New South Wales | Chris Minns | Legislative Assembly | Labor | 45 | 48.4% | 3 | 48/93 | 51.6% |
| Scotland | John Swinney | Scottish Parliament | SNP | 64 | 49.6% | 0 | 64/129 | 49.6% |
| Tasmania | Jeremy Rockliff | Tasmanian House of Assembly | Liberal | 14 | 40.0% | 4 | 15/35 | 41.8% |
| Thuringia | Mario Voigt | Landtag of Thuringia | CDU – BSW – SPD | 44 | 50.0% | 0 | 44/88 | 50.0% |
| Wales | Eluned Morgan | Senedd | Labour | 29 | 48.3% | 0 | 29/60 | 48.3% |
| Yukon | Ranj Pillai | Legislative Assembly | Liberal | 8 | 42.1% | 3 | 11/19 | 57.9% |
References
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- Despite surviving several motions of no confidence mainly thanks to centre-right to right-wing Republicans' abstention,
- Support by another party short of a coalition, for example in a confidence and supply arrangement.
- 18 Group and Akanat's Group
- Sakda's Group
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