Bahlil Supports 5 Per Cent Parliamentary Threshold

Golkar Party Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia believes that five per cent is the ideal figure for the parliamentary threshold.

“Regarding the parliamentary threshold in our communications across various parties, some desire six or seven per cent, some want five per cent, and some even want lower; however, the ideal figure, the ideal number, is five per cent—it is suitable,” Bahlil stated at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday (17/9).

Recently, the size of the parliamentary threshold has become a subject of discussion amidst the ongoing deliberations of the Election Bill in the House of Representatives (DPR). It is reported that coalition parties have reached an agreement on the five per cent figure.

Separately, Gerindra Party Secretary-General Sugiono confirmed that a meeting of party chairmen was held to discuss several points within the Election Bill. However, Sugiono noted that the meeting was only attended by the chairmen of coalition parties.

He mentioned that the results of the meeting included an agreement to change the parliamentary threshold from 4 per cent to 5 per cent. However, Sugiono declined to represent the stance of other parties.

“One thing that everyone seems to agree on, though I cannot speak on behalf of other parties, is that Gerindra also agrees with a 5 per cent threshold. As Golkar expressed yesterday, and PKS also expressed, I believe that is what we have agreed upon,” said Sugiono.

Meanwhile, the National Mandate Party (PAN), which is also part of the government coalition, expressed objections if the parliamentary threshold rises above 4 per cent. PAN Deputy Chairman Viva Yoga Mauladi stated that the party’s objection is not due to a fear of failing to meet the threshold.

He noted that for PAN, increasing the threshold tends to contradict the Constitutional Court Decision Number 116/PUU-XXI/2023.

“PAN objects if the Parliamentary Threshold (PT) rises above 4 per cent. PAN’s stance is not because we are worried about failing to secure seats in the DPR RI, as PAN has proven to consistently pass into Senayan from the 1999 to 2024 elections,” said Viva when contacted on Thursday (17/9).