Indonesian legislators debate electoral system reforms

Discussions regarding the reform of Indonesia's electoral system are intensifying within the House of Representatives (DPR RI). Two primary proposals have emerged as the Commission II prepares to discuss the Election Bill (RUU Pemilu).

One proposal, introduced by the Democratic Party, suggests implementing a ‘National Constituency’ or national pool system. This concept aims to minimize wasted votes caused by the parliamentary threshold. Golkar Party legislator Ahmad Irawan noted that while the idea of a national pool is an interesting breakthrough, it requires rigorous maturation to avoid voter confusion. He suggested that a system similar to Germany's could strengthen political institutions by allowing parties to determine legislative candidates, potentially benefiting long-serving party cadres who struggle under the current high-cost open proportional system.

Separately, Golkar Party Deputy Chairman Ahmad Doli Kurnia has proposed separating legislative elections (Pileg) from presidential elections (Pilpres). He argues that simultaneous elections dilute voter focus due to the overwhelming amount of campaign material and ballot boxes. Furthermore, he contends that the current presidential threshold, which relies on legislative results from five years prior, may lose relevance as party political stances shift over time.