Dynamics of the 5-7% Parliamentary Threshold: Democrats Propose 'National Constituency'
The Deputy Chairperson of the Democratic Party, Dede Yusuf, has responded to the proposal by NasDem Party Chairperson Surya Paloh, who has consistently advocated for a parliamentary threshold of 7%. The Democrats highlighted the issue of tens of millions of votes being wasted under the 4% threshold applied in the previous election.
“The Democrats are currently reviewing this, and it is not about the percentage itself. It is about how many people’s votes will be wasted if the concept remains solely based on a percentage threshold. Previously, with a 4% threshold, up to 17 million votes were wasted. In 2009, with a 2.5% threshold, 19 million votes were wasted,” Dede stated on Sunday (20/9/2026).
Dede explained that the Democratic Party is proposing a ‘National Constituency’ or ‘national pool’ concept for the election of members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI). He emphasised that the remaining votes from parties that successfully pass the threshold could be pooled to determine additional seats in the DPR.
Dede also referenced the merging of remaining votes (stembus accord), a method previously used in the 1999 General Election. He expressed hope that studying this concept could reduce the number of wasted votes.
“That is why the Democrats have proposed the ‘National Constituency’ (national pool) concept from the beginning. The remaining votes from parties that pass the threshold would be converted into a national constituency so that no voters’ voices are wasted. The ‘stembus accord’ model was used in the past,” he said.
However, Dede Yusuf noted that the proposal is still being studied by the party, pointing out that similar systems are utilised in New Zealand and Germany.
Previously, NasDem Party Chairperson Surya Paloh revealed the reasons behind his party’s desire to increase the parliamentary threshold to 7%. He argued that this figure could reduce the number of parties passing the selection, thereby simplifying the governance of democracy.
“From election to election, NasDem has been the most eager to raise the parliamentary threshold. To be honest, that is our position. Our consideration is to have selected parties; fewer parties to manage the flow of democracy in this country, in our view,” Paloh explained to journalists at NasDem Tower, Central Jakarta, on Saturday (19/9/2026).
He stated that his party remains consistent in its stance on raising the threshold, though he emphasised that they respect the differing views of other parties.
On the other hand, Paloh noted that NasDem’s current electability has not yet reached the 7% mark in parliamentary threshold calculations. He admitted that the party is prepared to face the possibility of not entering parliament if the threshold is raised to 7%.
“NasDem proposes 7%, even though our surveys show NasDem at 4%. NasDem is willing to accept not entering parliament if the parliamentary threshold is raised; that is part of our desire to prioritise the greater national interest over party interests,” he concluded.