Indonesia's Parliament Threshold: 5% Threshold Should Be Avoided, 1% is Sufficient, Says GKSR

The Indonesian Political and Economic Reform Study Group (GKSR) has expressed its view that the 'parliamentary threshold,' which determines the eligibility for parties to secure seats in the House of Representatives, should be lowered from the current 5%. GKSR argues that the 5% threshold should be avoided, and that 1% would be sufficient for parties to gain representation in parliament. This proposal is expected to deepen discussions regarding representation and diversity within Indonesia's party system. Under Indonesia's electoral system, parties must obtain a certain percentage of valid votes nationwide to win seats in the House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, DPR). This threshold is intended to prevent the proliferation of small parties and ensure political stability, but it also faces criticism for making it difficult for diverse public opinions to be reflected in parliament. GKSR's proposal can be seen as a response to calls for a system design that allows more parties to win seats. For parties representing regional voices or those focused on specific policy issues, a lower threshold could open up pathways to parliament. The specific figure of 1% suggests that even small parties with a certain support base could gain seats, potentially broadening the base of political participation. However, lowering the threshold also carries the risk of increasing the number of parties, potentially undermining political stability. A proliferation of small parties could make coalition government formation difficult and could lead to stagnation in the policy-making process. The extent to which GKSR's proposal will influence Indonesia's parliamentary election system remains a subject of future discussion. Source: Sindonews