PAN: Without Sanctions, 30% Female Candidate Quota is Just a Decorative Clause

Viva Yoga Mauladi, Deputy Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), stated the party supports the Constitutional Court’s ruling requiring a minimum 30% female candidate quota in each electoral district, accompanied by strict sanctions for violators. He emphasised that sanctions are essential to prevent the gender representation rule from being merely a formality. PAN will adhere to the court’s decision in future DPR and DPRD candidate nominations. Viva noted that affirmative action is still needed as women face barriers in politics, including patriarchal culture, the perception of politics as a male domain, economic issues, and gender-biased party policies. ‘The quota is not merely a privilege for women but a correction of electoral political imbalances,’ he said. Despite existing affirmative policies, female representation in the DPR has not yet reached the 30% target. Previously, the Constitutional Court partially granted a material review of Article 245 of the 2017 Election Law regarding female representation in legislative candidates. Justice Adies Kadir stated that strict sanctions are necessary to effectively reduce discrimination against female representation in the DPR and DPRD.