Parliamentary Threshold in Election Bill Proposed to Apply Down to Provincial and District Councils
Deputy Chairman of the DPR Legislation Body (Baleg), Ahmad Doli Kurnia, has proposed that discussions on changing the parliamentary threshold in the Election Bill should also apply down to provincial and district/city DPRDs.
However, Doli stated that the percentages should differ for each level. For instance, he proposed changing the threshold to 4-6% at the national level, 4% at the provincial level, and 3% at the district/city level.
“In an effort to find an equilibrium between those two elements, I believe 4-6% is an ideal figure,” Doli said when contacted on Wednesday (22/4).
“With the proviso that the parliamentary threshold is applied not only to the DPR RI but also to provincial and district/city DPRDs in a tiered manner. For example, 5, 4, 3; 5% for the DPR RI, 4% for provincial DPRDs, and 3% for district/city DPRDs,” he added.
Currently, the parliamentary threshold only applies to the DPR RI. For DPRD levels, both provincial and district/city, faction mergers are used.
Under those provisions, parties whose seats cannot fill all council tools (AKD) or commissions can join parties with more seats or form joint factions.
According to Doli, determining the parliamentary threshold must consider two aspects: representativeness and governance. The first aspect allows parties to represent the people’s voice.
However, on the other hand, parliamentary decision-making must remain effective so that governance runs well.
“Especially since our system of government is presidential, which must be supported by a simple multi-party parliamentary system,” Doli said.
10 issues for change
Doli previously revealed there are 10 issues for change in the Election Bill, some of which are mandates from Constitutional Court (MK) rulings.
He outlined the 10 points of change as follows: first, the legislative election system. The Election Bill will reopen discussions on changing the election system, whether it remains open proportional, closed, or even a mixture.
Second, discussions on changing the parliamentary threshold. Third, discussions on changing the presidential threshold, both based on MK rulings. Until now, Doli said, several factions are not yet in agreement on changing the parliamentary threshold, although for the presidential threshold, the MK has requested its abolition.
Fourth, discussions on changing the number of seats per electoral district (dapil). Fifth, the seat conversion system from votes in the DPR. Sixth, the issue of separating local and national elections referring to Decision Number 135/PUU-XXII/2024. Seventh, improvements to the system to curb money politics and vote buying practices.
Eighth, digitalisation in every stage of the election. Ninth, discussions on changing the election organising body, which Doli said has long been criticised for its professionalism and integrity.
And finally, regarding the resolution of election disputes. For a long time, he has been pushing for the establishment of a special judicial body for election dispute resolution.
“Well, those are some or 10 issues, 5 contemporary and 5 classic, which we will definitely discuss in the deliberation of the election law,” Doli said.