More than meets the eye? Coalition formation in a strong-leader local government system

Abstract This paper approaches local coalition formation at the second tier of local government in Romania within the specific context of super-election year 2024. It aims to answer a few questions concerning the coalition preferences of local actors and the coalition bargaining process that are pertinent to this context. Combining quantitative data concerning the outcomes of the elections with qualitative data, the description of this case also offers some insights for coalition research. These are linked to the challenges of measuring local coalitions, the particulars of coalition formation in strong-leader local government systems, and the matter of coalition congruence.