Why were coalitions typically weak in the Weimar government?

Coalitions in the Weimar government were typically weak due to the presence of differing opinions among the various parties involved. The Weimar Republic was characterized by a highly fragmented political landscape, with numerous parties representing a wide array of ideologies and agendas. This diversity resulted in coalitions often struggling to maintain a unified direction or purpose, as the parties prioritized their own interests over collective governance. Conflicts arose when parties could not agree on key issues, leading to instability within the coalition government, which ultimately hindered effective decision-making and governance.

In contrast, the other options, while relevant to the context of the Weimar Republic, do not accurately capture the primary reason for the weakness of coalitions. The constitution actually allowed for coalitions, and while it aimed for majority rule, the presence of many parties made it challenging for any single coalition to maintain stable majority support. Additionally, coalitions often had conflicting goals rather than shared objectives, which further contributed to their instability.