The draft amendments significantly decrease the minimum number of candidates that a political party must include on its candidate lists for both parliamentary and local council elections. In this regard, for parliamentary elections, the minimum number of candidates to be included on party lists as provided for under Article 115(3) of the Election Code would be reduced from 100 to 76 (there are 150 parliamentary seats in total). For local council elections, the minimum number of candidates to be included on party lists as provided for under Article 143(3) of the Election Code would be halved, from nominating not less than the number of members to be elected under the proportional system, to not less than half the number. In this respect, it is noted that the choice of an electoral system is a sovereign decision of a state, provided the system conforms with principles contained in OSCE commitments, the Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters and other international norms. It is noted that this amendment may facilitate greater participation and representation of smaller or regional parties in elections at both the national and local level, in line with the principle of political pluralism. In this respect, consideration could be given to further reducing or lifting the minimum number of candidates per list.