In other words, if a party has 20.1% it is sure to win a seat, whereas one with 100% /4+1 - ε 

is not. If four parties have 20.1% the fifth may remains unrepresented with 19.6%, though it is immediately obvious that this is a possibility, not a certainty. For example, if the votes are apportioned 20.1 – 20.1 – 20.1 – 19.6 – 10.1 – 10, the party with 19.6% will be represented. An absolute formula requires the number of competing parties to be taken into account, which greatly reduces the validity of the one proposed by M. Gallagher and P. Mitchell, where the threshold is L = 75% (N+1), N being the number of seats to be filled. In this context, reference should be made to Mr Jaklic's report (CDL-AD(2008)037), which deals with the latter at some length and quotes the examples cited by P. Norris. These reinforce the rapporteur's scepticism, particularly in the case of Spain, which is considered below.