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Contrary to popular belief, the rule of law is not an obstacle to democratic expression. It is its precondition. This is particularly taught by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which sees the rule of law and democracy in a logic of mutual enrichment. Such a relationship is evident when the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) considers judicial review, characteristic of the rule of law, as "complementary to the democratic process", implying a more sustained attention to the role of national legislators. Similarly, breaches of the rule of law cannot be wholly separated from the democratic question. In this sense, the rule of law allows for the respect of essential rights that preserve the fundamental democratic foundation.