In other countries one can see big parties manipulating the smaller ones in coalitions.
Not necessarily.
In Poland for instance, since end of 2023 we have unfortunately been ruled by a leftish coalition: the socially right-ISH, economically leftISH “3rd way”, the socially leftISHER, economically right “Citizens party” and the socially and economically LEFT “Left party”.
The “3rd way” managed to curb some of the more leftish policies of the “citizens party” around abortion, homers, etc. and the net result is gridlock internally.
When the rightISH “law and order” party ruled in its first term, it had more socially conservative members who pulled it to a more socially conservative bent.
And in Germany there s the FDP which is economically very liberal and it has curbed many socialist moves.