Party Simplification: For Whom?

In Indonesia’s constitutional discourse, there are two main arguments frequently voiced to legitimise the limitation of the number of political parties. First, the number of parties must be simplified to ensure national stability. Second, fewer parties will lead to more effective parliamentary performance.

When examined through the lens of history and objective real-world data, these two arguments are essentially myths deliberately maintained to preserve the dominance of elite groups in Senayan. The narrative of party simplification is always wrapped in the jargon of efficiency and stability. This discourse has resurfaced amidst the uncertain plans for the revision of the Election Law.

Several political elites, such as the Chairperson of the PDI Perjuangan, have openly hinted at support for raising the parliamentary threshold to achieve a simple multi-party system. The argument remains the same: that decision-making in parliament will proceed more quickly and effectively. However, if we dissect that argument more deeply, is simplification truly the answer to effectiveness, or is it merely a systematic attempt to stifle competition?

In 1973, in the name of political stability, the authorities forced ten election participants to merge into just two political parties (PDI and PPP), alongside Golkar. This period, widely known as Party Fusion, demonstrated that forced simplification can backfire on party independence. Internal conflicts within these parties became a hallmark, which ultimately facilitated executive intervention.

In reality, it has been proven that oligarchies find it much easier to control a small number of parties because all interests become centralised and easily managed. Simplification, in this context, is not for the people, but rather a mechanism of power control that restricts the space for public participation. In a system forced into simplicity, opposition and alternative voices will always be squeezed by the strength of large coalitions that tend to act with a single voice.