KIEV, Dec. 8 – President Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday signed into law parliamentary election legislation approved last month that makes it more difficult for smaller political parties to enter Parliament.

The legislation increases to 5% from 3% the threshold that a party needs to clear to win seats in Parliament. Yanukovych said the change would “stimulate” political parties.

“This percentage would stimulate the development of the political system,” Yanukovych said on Thursday while traveling in the Dnipropetrovsk region.