While election thresholds of 10% and 7% are or may be deemed excessively high, a threshold of 5% is nothing unusual in the European context where a number of States which are using the proportional system in elections set this cut-off clause (e.g. the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Poland or Romania).33 Although the combination maintaining the 5% threshold and elimination of the Grundmandatsklausel could hinder the election chances of smaller and/or local parties in Germany, it cannot be said, that in itself it violates the principle of equal suffrage. It pursues the legitimate aim to prevent the fragmentation of the electorate and to set up a functional legislative body and an effective government with a sufficient parliamentary majority.