In some systems the initiative belongs to a minimum number of members of the local council (in a number of cases one third). Here again, a rather high threshold – preferably a qualified majority of the council – should be required in order to avoid the recall procedure from being an instrument to regularly put into question the position of elected officials. This last case may be seen as being closer to the no confidence motion by the local council, an instrument which is usually characteristic of systems where the mayor is elected by the local council. It has been noted, however, that a recall initiated by the request of part of the council (to be confirmed by popular vote) may apply where, like in the Republic of Moldova, the mayor is elected by the local population directly, and not by the local council. This may be justified by the fact that recall may be needed in situations of conflict between mayor and municipal council, which are more likely in cases of direct election of the mayor.