Types of Government and Democratic Consolidation in Postcommunist Europe and Postsoviet States

The article is treating the relation between the type of government and a degree of democratic consolidation in postcommunist countries. Some political scientists claim that a parliamentary regime is more convenient for democratic consolidation than a presidential or semi-presidential regimes. However, this opinion encounters many serious contraarguments. In reality the experience of postcommunist countries does not bring anything new into the discussion on political regimes. It is not possible to confirm or disclaim the supremacy of one type of government over another on basis of the examination of constitutional theories and political practice in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The assertion that parliamentarism or presidentialism is in all circumstances better working, more contributing for democratic consolidation, more flexible etc. is unsustainable. Many other factors different from a type of government contribute to a democratic consolidation, or on the contrary to endangering democracy.