ABSTRACT
This chapter reveals the aspects of parliamentary volatility that result in its negative public perception. It uses a thematic content analysis involving research of party documents, parliamentary websites, and media reports on legislative party switching. The coercive side of legislative party switching is presented from two perspectives: the blackmail used by MPs to obtain certain profits at the price of remaining in a parliamentary group, and the forcing of MPs to leave factions by their leaders. The main reasons for the negative image of party switching were considered to be its too frequent occurrence, the unclear or irrational motives that may be behind it, and the excessive ease with which transfers are made between ideologically divergent factions. Attention was also given to the strategies used by politicians and parliamentary services and the media to report on parliamentary transfers.
