Election results have a double meaning, relating both to institutional configurations as well as norms. On the one
hand, they determine who forms government and the power-balance in general. Based on the results, a new government may be formed; political parties either gain or lose seats in legislatures; some may even disappear altogether; and new entrants may emerge. On the other hand, the numbers themselves provide a deeper insight into the salience of the country’s foundational values, the vibrancy of its institutions and the sense of identity of the citizenry.