Introduction MPs represent citizens in Parliament but face pressure from interest groups.
Problem/Argument This creates a tension between constituent preferences and lobbying influences.
- Do sectional groups incentivize MP defections?
- Is there an alternative path toward authentic representation?
Data & Methods We analyzed 118 Swiss public referenda using multilevel regression to compare voter preferences with MPs' voting behavior across 448 representatives.
Key Findings Our results highlight two divergent effects:
- Negative effect: Sectional groups correlate strongly with MP defections from constituent views (bullet point).
- Positive effect: Cause groups reinforce the connection between MPs and voters, improving representation quality.
Significance These findings offer a nuanced understanding of political influence in Switzerland — interest group strategies matter differently depending on their type.
