On mixed electoral system
The article 'Mixed' electoral system an option by Ben Reilly Aug. 12 leaves much that is not answered before Mr. Reilly's claim, to wit: "... should dramatically increase levels of accountability of politicians to the electorate." may be found to hold any truth, or hope for future Indonesians.
Mr. Reilly's article concerns "The House" (of Representatives) only. The current body of the same stature is of little stature. What assurance is Mr. Reilly able to offer the public that "the House" of which he writes will have stature? Where is the evidence that tomorrow's bureaucrats will not continue with today's "rule by decree", thus effectively unbenching "The House"?
Is the party system of which Mr. Reilly speaks no different from that of the present, in which the power elite's choices occupy the seats? Without legally enforceable regulations for ensuring that "district representation" is truly such, future politicians will surely continue the abuses of the recent past.
The danger Mr. Reilly calls "localism" may be better referred to as protectionism and gerrymandering in support of the dominant political parties. Were an election rule to be adopted that required the parties themselves (based on their candidates vote totals) to have received a minimum specified total national vote (i.e. 5 percent, as an example) in order for their candidates to be seated, the parties would be forced to seek and present the most desired candidates, the danger of localism will have been averted and the people's choices will have been secured.
In the example above, I'm not suggesting that 5 percent become the rule; perhaps 3 percent is more representative, or 2.5 percent. The percentage to be adopted should be determined on the basis of the number of parties to be accommodated. If the top three parties garner 70 percent of the total vote, a maximum of 6 other parties are accommodated at the 5 percent level and a maximum of 10 others at the 3 percent level, for a total number of represented parties of nine and 13, respectively. The politics of the people will establish the number of contesting parties, based on a rule that is not in itself discriminatory.
Much more information regarding the 75 National List seats is needed before the thoughtful reader is able to draw any conclusions, tentative or otherwise.
I hope in the future Mr. Reilly will continue to keep the public informed, but with much more substance and much less stroking.
C. DUPUIS
Jakarta