The threshold for winning seats in the parliament has been changed several times. In 2005, it was lowered from 6% to 4% for parties and from between 9 and 12% to 8% for blocs. The OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission have credited the previous reduction of threshold as an improvement and in their last Joint Opinion have specifically advised that “The authorities should in no case reverse this welcome reduction and stick to the threshold established for political parties”. It was also noted that “One would believe that coalitions should be encouraged in order to provide more cooperation and stable government”.[6]
