NasDem Proposes Formula for Parliamentary Threshold

Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the NasDem Party faction, Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, has proposed applying a parliamentary threshold for legislative elections at the provincial, regency, and city levels as well. NasDem suggests increasing the parliamentary threshold from the current 4% to a moderate figure above 5%, or 5.5%, 6%, up to 7%. The reason is that this figure will encourage stronger political party structures and party votes in elections. “We propose that the parliamentary threshold must apply not only at the national level but also at the provincial, regency/city levels,” Rifqinizamy told Tempo on Friday, 24 April 2026. NasDem proposes two formulas for the parliamentary threshold. First, a tiered parliamentary threshold. For example, 6% for national, 5% for provincial, or 4% for regency. Second, a parliamentary threshold using a single standard, but with consequences up to the provincial, regency/city levels. “For example, a 6% national parliamentary threshold, if a certain party does not have 6% nationally, then automatically its votes and presence at the provincial, regency/city levels are declared invalid or forfeited,” he said. According to Rifqi, this parliamentary threshold is important for building effective governance. With this, Rifqi said, future governments will consist of healthy political parties. “Because it is capable of playing its role well as a government party or a non-government party to carry out checks and balances.” Previously, the Golkar Party also proposed a parliamentary threshold size for DPR legislative elections in the range of 4 to 6%. Deputy General Chairman of the Golkar Party Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung said that this figure is considered an equilibrium point in evaluating the electoral system. “The 4-6% figure is ideal,” Doli said when contacted on Wednesday, 22 April 2026. Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Golkar Party Muhammad Sarmuji also proposed a parliamentary threshold at 5%. According to Sarmuji, this figure is a combination of parliamentary threshold and faction threshold. “The 5% figure can create a simple multi-party system,” Sarmuji said via WhatsApp message on Saturday, 28 February 2026. Sarmuji emphasised that the implementation of the parliamentary threshold does indeed have the potential to cause votes not to be converted into seats. However, according to him, the existence of the parliamentary threshold is still necessary.