Labour Party Rejects 5% Threshold, Demands 1% to Prevent Wasted Votes

The President of the Labour Party, Said Iqbal, has rejected the 5% parliamentary threshold that was recently agreed upon during a meeting of political party chairmen. Said Iqbal is requesting that the parliamentary threshold be set at 1%.

Said Iqbal initially stated that his party, along with other non-parliamentary parties, opposes the 5% threshold proposal. According to him, this figure violates a Constitutional Court (MK) decision.

“Eight non-parliamentary parties joined in the GKSR (Movement for People’s Voice Sovereignty) to reject the proposal because it violates the MK decision which stated that the parliamentary threshold should be below 4%,” said Said Iqbal when contacted on Friday (18/09/2026).

He emphasised the proposal for a 1% parliamentary threshold, highlighting the MK ruling that rejected the 4% figure.

“The GKSR proposal is a 1% threshold, which is lower than 4%, because the MK rejected even the 4% figure. The GKSR proposal is a 1% threshold so that many people’s votes are not wasted,” he said.

Furthermore, Said emphasised the MK ruling which mandates discussions with non-parliamentary parties regarding the threshold. He argued that there should be a meeting with non-parliamentary parties to discuss the matter.

“The MK stated that changes to the parliamentary threshold value must be discussed with non-parliamentary parties as well. After the parliamentary parties meet, there must be a meeting with non-parliamentary parties, because the MK’s order requires the determination of the threshold value to consider all views,” he added.

Previously, several chairmen of political parties in the government coalition met to discuss the revision of the Election Law, which includes regulations on the parliamentary threshold.

The meeting of the government coalition chairmen was confirmed by the Secretary-General of the Gerindra Party, Sugiono. In his explanation, Sugiono stated that the party chairmen had met recently.

“Yes, several party chairmen gathered yesterday. Gerindra was represented by Mr Dasco, acting as the daily chairman, to discuss matters that need to be addressed regarding the election law,” Sugiono told journalists at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (16/09).

Sugiono noted that an agreement was reached during the meeting regarding the parliamentary threshold. He stated that his party, led by President Prabowo Subianto, agrees with a 5% parliamentary threshold.

“One thing that seems to be agreed upon, though I cannot speak on behalf of other parties, is that Gerindra agrees with a 5% threshold. As Golkar and PKS also expressed yesterday, I believe that is what we have agreed upon,” he concluded.