It is also less stable. When the world doesn't resolve critical issues in a matter of months this means emotional sentiment and knee jerk reactions can rule instead of long term thinking and resolve. I think 4 years is a good compromise between instability/lack of time for plans to come to fruition and being stuck with a bad choice for too long. You will get some of both with four year terms and a lot of the latter with a 6 year term and a lot of the former with Parliament. I'm not impressed by what Europe's form of government has accomplished by the way. I think that short leash is exactly why they take no short term risks for potential long term gains.

Regards,
Mark