The aim of ensuring government stability may justify specific electoral mechanisms and countries such as Italy – a country well known for its short-lived governments – and Greece have introduced premiums for the biggest party. However, in a democracy, governmental stability should not be equated with pursuance of one-party parliamentary majority by all means and under any circumstances. In any case, the critical limit is set by the requirement, inherent
in the democratic principle, that “minorities should be adequately represented”.