Oso: The 17 Million Votes of the People for Non-Parliamentary Parties Must Not Be Lost

Jakarta – A number of non-parliamentary political parties united under the People’s Voice Sovereignty Movement (GKSR) have once again discussed the Election Bill (RUU Pemilu). The discussion took place in a focus group discussion (FGD) to formulate ways to save millions of people’s votes, through lowering the parliamentary threshold or Parliamentary Threshold (PT).

In the forum, former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD and Professor Zainal Arifin Mochtar from the Faculty of Law at UGM were present. Also attending were Oesman Sapta Odang (Oso), General Chairman of the Hanura Party, Said Iqbal, President of the Labour Party, Ferry Kurnia Rizkiyansyah, Secretary General of the Perindo Party, and several other officials from PPP, PKN, PBB, Ummat Party, and Berkarya Party.

“The GKSR secretariat will continue to be active. Today, we invited Pak Mahfud MD to discuss the Parliamentary Threshold (PT). We will listen to input on how no single vote should be lost,” said Oso at the GKSR secretariat office in Menteng, Jakarta, on Monday, 11 May 2026.

Regarding the PT, Oso continued, several parliamentary parties are starting to voice opinions. Some propose 5 to 7 percent, but others suggest 0 percent.

Meanwhile, GKSR views the PT as potentially wasting millions of people’s votes, narrowing political representation, strengthening the dominance/hegemony of large parties, and stifling national political regeneration.

“Democracy must not turn into a closed competition, an elite cartel, and an exclusive arena for established parties. Our democracy should not give the people the right to vote but deny them the right to be represented,” he emphasised.

Therefore, Oso continued, GKSR proposes the implementation of a Faction Threshold, rather than expanding the application of PT to Regional People’s Representative Councils (DPRD).

“The higher the PT, the more people’s votes are lost, the narrower the space for political alternatives. Extending PT to DPRD will kill local democracy, strengthen the dominance of national parties, and weaken the spirit of regional autonomy,” he stated.

Furthermore, the Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) RI for the 2017-2019 period said that GKSR is pushing for revisions to the Election Law to be carried out earlier. They hope that the revisions to the Election Law will be completed by the end of 2026, at the latest early 2027.

“The aim is to provide certainty to parties and the people, avoiding legal chaos and repeated judicial reviews,” he added.