Coalition crunch: Parties must deliver more than deals for positions

Realities where those become relevant. But I think it will make sense and it will be a lot less messy for it to be driven at national level, especially given the 14 days deadline and the time that's ticking on when councils have to be constituted. Well, let me pick you up on that 14-day period before councils meet for the first time. That's not enough, surely. No, it's not. And I mean, Jeremy, you'll be aware of the so-called Coalitions Bill or the Municipal Structures Amendment Act.

Which there were attempts to bring it before parliament and get it passed before this local government election. One of the key recommendations that it made was that the 14-day period should be extended to 30 days. And I think 14 days just pressures parties. It incentivizes parties going for positions rather than actually talking about programs of actions. I mean, if you compare the 14 days versus sort of examples,

In Europe, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, you know, they take months to sometimes to negotiate the coalitions. I don't always think we have months, but what is very, very notable about their conversations and why it takes so long is because it's focused on the program of action and what the government is going to do rather than who's going to be mayor. So, yes, 14 days, in my view, is not long enough. But sadly, it is what it is, as they say in the classics, it's what they have to work.