Any suspension of the electoral process entails a limitation of the basic fundamental political rights of citizens, that imply periodical elections, a principle that is protected by article 25(b) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and by Article 3 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights and has been identified as one of the principles underlying Europe's electoral heritage in the Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters. As has been pointed out by the Venice Commission «Periodic elections are thus both a requirement of the principle of democracy and a fundamental right. Any restriction of the right to take part in periodic elections has to be provided for in the law, have a legitimate aim and be proportionate»