Fluctuations in the Parliamentary Threshold
Several political factions in the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) do not agree on determining the size of the parliamentary threshold. Factions in the DPR have differing views, some arguing that the parliamentary threshold should be abolished or increased.
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The Head of the Department of Politics and Social Change at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Arya Fernandes, explained that there is no ideal number to determine the size of the parliamentary threshold.
“The threshold is generally determined based on political decisions, not mechanical calculations,” said Arya on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
He gave an example that if in the 2029 election the threshold is made low with a figure of 1 percent, the impact will be the creation of an extreme multi-party system which can have implications for legislative deadlocks and political instability in the DPR.
Meanwhile, he said, if the threshold is made higher than the current size, the impact will be that the degree of representation and the high number of votes that are not converted into seats will be much greater.
He proposed that the threshold be reduced in two election cycles, namely 3.5 percent for 2029 and 3 percent for the next election. He gave an example that in the previous election, the use of a 3.5 percent threshold could reduce the number of wasted votes from 17 to 11 million.
“The reduction is expected to increase the degree of more inclusive representation,” said Arya.
Then, what is the size of the parliamentary threshold from election to election?
2004 Election
Parliamentary Threshold: 0 percent
Parties that passed the DPR: 15 parties
Participating parties in the election: 24 parties
Valid votes: 113,490,795
Wasted votes: 7,567,285
2009 Election
Parliamentary Threshold: 2.5 percent
Parties that passed the DPR: 9 parties
Participating parties in the election: 38 parties
Valid votes: 104,048,118
Wasted votes: 19,047,481
2014 Election
Parliamentary Threshold: 3.5 percent
Parties that passed the DPR: 10 parties
Participating parties in the election: 12 parties
Valid votes: 124,885,737
Wasted votes: 2,964,975
2019 Election
Parliamentary Threshold: 4 percent
Parties that passed the DPR: 9 parties
Participating parties in the election: 16 parties
Valid votes: 129,972,260
Wasted votes: 13,595,842
2024 Election
Parliamentary Threshold: 4 percent
Parties that passed the DPR: 8 parties
Participating parties in the election: 18 parties
Valid votes: 151,796,631
Wasted votes: 17,304,303
The Constitutional Court in case number 116/PUU-XVIII/2023 decided to abolish the 4 percent parliamentary threshold as stipulated in the Election Law.
In its legal consideration, the Court argued that the provision of the parliamentary threshold is not in line with the principles of popular sovereignty, electoral justice, and violates the legal certainty guaranteed by the constitution.
The Court continued that the provision of Article 414 paragraph (1) of the Election Law is conditionally constitutional to be enforced in the 2029 Election and beyond as long as changes have been made.
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