[RajuVarghese]

It also requires a certain willingness to compromise. In Switzerland one sees is all the way from the local government (gemeinde) up to the top (the federal level). Compromise is not a dirty word here; when politicians do it they are not (usually) looked at as 'giving in to the enemy'.

[CaptainZapp]

That's an extremely insightful comment and very true.

Not that it's universally adhered to by all proponents, but generally that's very much the understanding how the system should work.

As a for example: Switzerland has a "president". But that doesn't really matter since that changes annually and another member of the federal council gets to be president.

Except representative the "president" is not more powerful than any other member of the council.

[PetitPrince]

To further clarify: The president have mostly a ceremonial and diplomatic role. What is considered the Head of the Executive Branch in other countries is collectively represented here by the Federal Council. The Council is made of 7 peoples elected proportionally from the various political party by the Federal Assembly (== parliement). The Council should also by picked so that all regions of Switzerland are represented.