Judging from its less than lukewarm response, National would clearly prefer to ignore the Electoral Commission's well-crafted recommendations for improving MMP. So the governing party is desperately trying to manufacture not just one excuse for doing so, but several.
In a perfect world, National would put self-interest very much in second place, including that of allies Act and United Future.
In a perfect world, National would adopt the commission's wish for the "one-seat threshold" to be axed and join forces with Labour to secure a majority in Parliament of sufficient number to justify doing so.
National would likewise call on Labour's backing to enact the commission's partly compensating recommendation for the party vote threshold to be cut from 5 to 4 per cent.
The commission's plea for the so-called "coat-tails" clause to be abolished, however, looks like falling victim to National's self-interest.