The Head of the Election and Regional Election Victory Field (BP3) of\nthe PKS Central Executive Board, Mardani Ali Sera, has responded to the\nongoing discussions regarding the proposed parliamentary threshold (PT).\nMardani stated that a 5% threshold is reasonable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe considerations for the parliamentary threshold are between\nrepresentativeness and effective government. A 4% figure would have been\nsufficient, but since the Constitutional Court annulled it on the\ngrounds that many votes are wasted, new norms need to be established.\nTherefore, a 5% proposal remains reasonable,\u201d Mardani said when\ncontacted on Friday (18\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
Mardini believes that Indonesia has experimented enough with various\nthresholds since the 1998 Reformation. He noted that while the figure is\nsensible, it must be accompanied by a mechanism to accommodate wasted\nvotes.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking at the six elections held since the 1998 Reformation, we\nhave had enough opportunities to experiment. Thus, the 5% proposal is\nreasonable, but there must be a mechanism to capture wasted votes,\u201d\nMardani added.<\/p>\n
The member of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI)\nstated that there are two ways to ensure wasted votes are captured.\nThese methods include the 1999 \u2018stembus accord\u2019 pattern or a\ncompensation pattern. For context, the \u2018stembus accord\u2019 during the 1999\nElection was a system of merging leftover votes or vote tallies between\npolitical parties to convert them into seats in the legislature.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 1999 stembus accord pattern was previously implemented, or a\ncompensation pattern could be used at both the national and constituency\nlevels. Under this, votes from political parties that do not reach the\nminimum 5% would still receive seat allocations through a compensation\nroute. This allows for the simplification of political parties while\nensuring no votes are wasted,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Previously, several chairpersons of political parties within the\ngovernment coalition met to discuss the revision of the Election Law,\nwhich includes regulations on the parliamentary threshold.<\/p>\n
This meeting of coalition chairpersons was confirmed by the\nSecretary-General of the Gerindra Party, Sugiono. In his explanation,\nSugiono stated that the party chairpersons had met recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, several party chairpersons gathered recently. Gerindra was\nrepresented by Mr Dasco, acting as the daily chairman, to discuss\nmatters that need to be addressed regarding the election law,\u201d Sugiono\ntold journalists at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on\nWednesday (16\/9).<\/p>\n
Sugiono noted that an agreement was reached during the meeting\nregarding the parliamentary threshold. He mentioned that his party, led\nby President Prabowo Subianto, agrees with a 5% parliamentary\nthreshold.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing that seems to be agreed upon\u2014though I cannot speak on\nbehalf of other parties\u2014is that Gerindra agrees with a 5% PT. As Golkar\nand PKS also expressed recently, I believe that is what we have agreed\nupon,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pks-states-5-threshold-is-reasonable-proposes-two-ways-to-accommodates-wasted-votes-1789693066", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }