Dasco States 5 Per Cent Parliamentary Threshold Option Is Not Yet Final

The Executive Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, has addressed the recent meeting of chairpersons from government coalition parties, which reportedly reached an agreement on the option to raise the parliamentary threshold to 5 per cent.

Dasco stated that the meeting was merely a brainstorming session or initial discussion and will be followed by further meetings. “This brainstorming is only in the early stages and will continue so that discussions within the DPR factions can proceed smoothly,” Dasco said at the parliamentary complex on Thursday (17/9).

As it is still in the early stages, Dasco ensured that the 5 per cent increase option is not yet final. He noted that his party will continue to monitor future dynamics while listening to input from various parties.

“Since this is brainstorming, no final decision has been made. The results of these discussions are roughly as conveyed by Mr Sugiono,” he said.

Dasco added that the House of Representatives (DPR) will continue to absorb aspirations from various stakeholders before the General Election Bill is officially discussed. “While waiting, we from the party are also awaiting the results of public participation from Commission II of the DPR, which will then lead to pre-discussions and further requests for public involvement,” he said.

The Secretary General of the Gerindra Party, Sugiono, confirmed the news of the meeting between the chairpersons of the coalition parties. He stated that all coalition parties had agreed on the 5 per cent threshold option.

According to Sugiono, the coalition hopes that several proposed changes in the Bill will make future elections more effective and efficient. He also emphasised that the coalition wants to ensure that elections continue to represent the will of the people.

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