What is the Presidential Threshold and Why Was the Presidential Nomination Rule Abolished by the Constitutional Court?

Kapanlagi.com - The Constitutional Court (MK) recently made a groundbreaking move that shook the political landscape of Indonesia by abolishing the presidential threshold rule! The rule that required political parties to secure at least 20 percent of seats in the DPR or 25 percent of valid national votes to nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates has now become history. This bold step is seen as an effort to strengthen democracy, providing equal opportunities for all political parties in the electoral contest.

Previously, this provision was regulated in Article 222 of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections. However, the MK deemed that this requirement contradicted the principle of political equality guaranteed by the constitution. This decision has sparked various reactions from the public and political observers. Some welcomed it enthusiastically as a new milestone in Indonesia's democratic journey, while others expressed concerns about the potential for increasing political polarization.

So, what exactly is meant by the presidential threshold, and how did this rule come to be abolished by the MK? Let’s delve deeper to understand the impact of this monumental decision on the future of Indonesian politics.

1. What is the Presidential Threshold?

The presidential threshold, or nomination threshold, is the minimum requirement that must be met by a political party or coalition of parties to nominate a pair of presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Since it was first implemented in the 2004 presidential election, this provision has undergone changes over time. In the 2019 and 2024 presidential elections, parties must meet the criteria of 20 percent of seats in the House of Representatives or 25 percent of national valid votes to be able to nominate.

However, interestingly, Article 6A paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution states that presidential and vice-presidential candidates can be proposed by participating political parties without any requirement for the number of votes or seats that must be met.

2. Reasons the Constitutional Court Abolished the Presidential Threshold

The Constitutional Court (MK) took a bold step by abolishing regulations deemed detrimental to democracy, based on the principles of political equality and the right of every citizen to participate in governance.

The MK emphasized that the regulation actually failed to simplify the number of political parties and favored a handful of large parties, thus violating the spirit of democracy that should provide space for all voices.

3. The Journey of the Presidential Threshold Rule

Since it was first implemented in the 2004 presidential election, the presidential threshold has become a focal point in the dynamics of Indonesian politics. Initially, this requirement was set at 15 percent of the seats in the DPR or 20 percent of valid national votes, but over time, in the 2009 presidential election, the threshold surged to 25 percent of the DPR seats while maintaining the 20 percent valid votes.

This change continued through the 2014, 2019, and approaching 2024 elections, triggering various lawsuits in the Constitutional Court. Ultimately, in 2025, this controversial rule had to acknowledge its defeat and was removed from the political stage, marking a new chapter in Indonesia's democratic journey.

4. Implications of the Abolition of the Presidential Threshold

The abolition of the presidential threshold is expected to trigger more intense electoral battles, providing fresh opportunities for smaller parties to launch their presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

However, behind this hope, there are concerns about the potential increase in political polarization that could divide society.

5. Reactions and Prospects for the Upcoming Elections

This decision has triggered a variety of reactions among the public and political observers. Some view it as a positive step towards a more dynamic democracy, while others express concerns about potential challenges that may arise.

In the upcoming elections, it is expected that more competing candidate pairs will emerge, offering a range of choices for the people; however, on the other hand, this also has the potential to add complexity to the existing competition.

6. What is the presidential threshold?

The presidential threshold, or the threshold for presidential candidacy, is a provision that requires political parties to obtain a certain number of seats in the House of Representatives or a specified amount of valid national votes before they can propose a pair of presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

7. Why did the Constitutional Court abolish the presidential threshold?

The Constitutional Court (MK) asserts that this rule contradicts the spirit of political equality and the right of every individual to participate in governance.

8. What is the impact of the removal of the presidential threshold on elections?

The upcoming elections are expected to become a more intense battleground with an increasing number of candidate pairs ready to compete, but behind that, there is a looming threat of political polarization.

9. When was the presidential threshold first implemented?

This rule was first introduced in the 2004 Presidential Election, with different threshold requirements, marking a new chapter in our democratic history.

10. Can all parties now nominate a president?

With the removal of this rule, all political parties participating in the elections now have an equal opportunity to propose pairs of presidential and vice-presidential candidates, paving the way for a more diverse and interesting array of choices for voters.

(kpl/rmt)