PKS: 4% Parliamentary Threshold is Sufficient, No Need to Increase
PKS Secretary-General M Kholid responded to a proposal by NasDem Chairman Surya Paloh regarding the parliamentary threshold (PT) of 7%. Kholid believes that the 4% parliamentary threshold is already appropriate.
“The 4 percent PT, as in previous years, is good enough to maintain and does not need to be increased,” Kholid told reporters on Wednesday (February 25, 2026).
“Because the higher the PT, the greater the number of votes that are not converted in accordance with the voters’ aspirations,” he added.
Kholid believes that the parliamentary threshold is still needed as a mechanism to maintain political stability in parliament. According to him, without a threshold, the fragmentation of political parties in the DPR could increase.
“Regarding the ideal number for the threshold, there must be a balance between the representation of political parties in parliament and the number of votes that are not accommodated due to the threshold,” he said.
In addition, Kholid opened up other options in determining the size of the threshold, namely adjusting it to the number of commissions and internal bodies (AKD) in the DPR RI. Currently, the DPR has 13 commissions and six AKDs.
“Now there are 13 commissions and 6 AKDs in the DPR RI, so the PT is converted to be equivalent to the number of commissions and AKDs. From there, we can calculate the PT. That could be one of the options,” he said.
Previously, Surya Paloh stated that NasDem would remain consistent in pushing for the parliamentary threshold to be increased to 7%. Paloh believes that a 7% threshold is much more effective.
“I think NasDem should remain consistent on that. Unless there are significant changes. In any case, we, NasDem, honestly think that from a multi-party system, if we can change to a selected party, that would be much more effective. To maintain government stability and also for the implementation of the benefits of the freedom of democracy that we have,” said Surya Paloh at the NasDem Tower, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Saturday (February 21).
Paloh then mentioned the large number of political parties. Paloh questioned what the point of democracy is if it does not bring benefits.
“So it can be a reflection for us. We are too happy with the large number of political parties in the name of democracy itself. But on the other hand, what is the point of democracy if it does not bring the principle of benefit and our consistency towards the direction of the ideals of independence that we have. Ability, effectiveness, rationality, intellectuality, and morality must move much closer to our common goals,” he said.
Watch also the video “PKS President Hints at Rejecting Whoosh and IKN”
(amw/dwr)