PDIP Warns That Arguments for DPRD Threshold Must Be Strong to Avoid Challenge in Constitutional Court

PDIP Deputy Chairman Deddy Sitorus believes that proposals for a parliamentary threshold for DPRDs at the provincial and regency or city levels need to consider their shortcomings and advantages. Deddy warns that new election rules could be challenged in the Constitutional Court (MK).

“A proposal is just a proposal, so feel free to study its advantages and disadvantages. If it’s for legislative effectiveness in the regions, there are indeed benefits, potentially making decision-making easier. But of course, there are also drawbacks that need to be considered,” Deddy told reporters on Friday (24/4/2026).

Deddy stated that a thorough study is needed so that the DPR’s arguments are not overturned by the MK. Deddy alluded to MK decisions that are often unpredictable.

“So in my view, a study and a solid basis of arguments are required, along with aspects of constitutionality and philosophy. Don’t let it be vulnerable to lawsuits in the MK because MK decisions now tend to be unpredictable and cause confusion,” Deddy said.

“We work so hard on it, then the MK rules the opposite. Sometimes I think, maybe the MK should just provide input during the law-making process or be asked for an opinion before a law is enacted,” he continued.

This member of Commission II of the DPR reminded that the arguments in drafting laws by his side must be strong. Deddy wants the products created by the DPR not to be easily challenged in the MK.

“What’s the point of working so hard if anyone can negate a long political process? Right, it’s tiring. Therefore, the constitutional and philosophical aspects of the proposal must be strong so it’s not easily challenged,” he explained.

Deddy highlighted the MK, which should only have the authority to declare DPR products constitutional or not. Deddy believes the MK instead seems to have a new role in making laws.

“The MK should only have the authority to say whether this is constitutional or not, not to lock in articles or new norms so that it seems the MK has the authority to make laws,” he stated.

Previously, the Chairman of Commission II of the NasDem Faction in the DPR, Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, proposed a threshold at the provincial, regency, or city levels. So far, DPRD seat calculations have been done without a threshold; parties with national votes below 4% can still obtain legislative seats in the regions.

“The reason is that with a parliamentary threshold, there will be institutionalisation or institutional strengthening of political parties. The institutionalisation of political parties is reflected in the strength of the party’s structural roots and the significance of the party’s votes in elections,” Rifqinizamy said.

“That’s why the second point is that we propose the parliamentary threshold to apply not only at the national level, but also at the provincial, regency, and city levels. There are several formulas we can provide for this kind of parliamentary threshold,” he added.