PDIP: 5 Per Cent Parliamentary Threshold is Ideal

The Chairperson of the Honour Committee of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) DPP, Komarudin Watubun, stated that the proposal for a 5 per cent parliamentary threshold is an ideal figure to achieve the simplification of political parties.

“The 5 per cent figure is ideal. There are certainly considerations regarding the effective efficiency of government operations. Therefore, the more political parties are simplified, the easier it becomes to consolidate power,” he said when met at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He noted that the parliamentary threshold must accommodate the voices of all citizens.

The member of Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR) also reminded Parliament to carefully deliberate the parliamentary threshold norms during the revision of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections.

He added that the Constitutional Court’s decision must serve as a reference, stating, “Because the Constitutional Court’s decision is final and binding.”

The proposal for a 5 per cent parliamentary threshold was agreed upon by coalition parties supporting the government during a meeting held recently. This was confirmed by the Secretary General of the Gerindra Party DPP, Sugiono.

Komarudin stated that PDIP does not feel excluded despite not being involved in the aforementioned meeting. According to him, meetings between elites of coalition parties are a normal occurrence.

“They certainly have their own strategies, but I believe this law belongs to the public… Party or coalition strategies are permissible, but ultimately, it will be discussed in the DPR,” he said.

Previously, Sugiono mentioned that the meeting between coalition parties took place during the working visit of the President of Indonesia and Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, to New Delhi, India.

The Secretary General of the Gerindra Party confirmed that one of the points agreed upon during the meeting was the proposal to set the parliamentary threshold (PT) at 5 per cent.

“It seems everyone agrees, though I cannot speak on behalf of other parties, but Gerindra also agrees with the 5 per cent PT,” he said at the parliamentary complex on Wednesday.