Jimly Proposes Parliamentary Factions Be Divided Into Two Major Coalitions

Former Constitutional Court Chief Jimly Asshiddiqie has proposed a complete restructuring of the faction system within the People’s Representative Council (DPR). He presented this proposal during a public hearing on the revision of the Electoral Law held by Commission II of the DPR at the DPR complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

During this session, Jimly urged that political parties in parliament be divided into only two major coalitions: a government-supporting bloc and an opposition bloc to serve as a balance of power. This step is necessary to maintain the quality of democracy and to avoid becoming trapped in the formality of vote gathering.

“Democracy is not merely elections. Democracy is not just decision-making conducted democratically. It is not enough. The principle is that the majority holds power,” said Jimly.

The Chair of the Police Reform Acceleration Commission emphasised that public opinion must be institutionally accommodated within parliament. Whilst the number of parties may be large, he proposed that once in the DPR, they should merge into two main blocs.

“So my proposal is—could parliamentary factions in the DPR be just two? The government bloc, so there can be many parties but once they enter government they become one faction. Everything else can be called the opposition party or the balancing bloc,” he said.

Technically, Jimly explained that this idea could be implemented by incorporating such rules into the revision of the Law on the People’s Consultative Assembly, the People’s Representative Council, the Regional Representative Council, and Regional People’s Representative Councils, known as MD3. The approach would involve limiting the number of seats controlled by the government to a maximum of 60 per cent, thereby preserving 40 per cent of seats for the balancing force to exercise its oversight function.

“If that does not happen, please forgive me, but as someone from outside looking in, there is no party that wants to be in opposition—they all want to join the government. This endangers democracy. Seriously, it means democracy becomes merely taking decisions and nothing else,” said Jimly.

Additionally, Jimly warned that legislators should not further delay discussion of the Electoral Law Bill by avoiding the commotion caused by many differing opinions. He estimated that this law must be completed at the latest by the end of this year so that the government and political parties have two years to adjust before the 2029 election season approaches. “If it is completed only next year, that is already too late in my view,” he said.