Parliamentary Threshold to Be Reviewed

VIVAnews - Constitutional Judge Akil Mochtar said that a lawsuit that some parties have filed against the implementation of a parliamentary threshold of Law on General Elections is being examined by the Constitutional Court. The court will give the result prior to the legislative elections which will be held by April 2009.

"It may be revoked, or it may be re-examined," said Mochtar on Friday, Jan 16.

The parliamentary threshold is being challenged by ten political parties. They filed the lawsuit to the Constitutional Court on Wednesday, Jan 14. They complained about the requirements for gaining seats in the parliament. Only parties that are capable of collecting minimum national votes of 2.5 percent in the legislative elections can have parliamentary seats.  

The parliamentary threshold is deemed to be against the constitution. As a result, parties participating the Elections urged that the Constitutional Court revokes the regulation.

The plaintiffs include Reform Democratic Party, Patriotic Party, Regional United Party, National People's Concern Party, Prosperous Indonesia Party, Freedom Bull National Party, New Indonesia Party of Struggle, Functional Party of Struggle, People's Conscience Party and Indonesian Democratic Party of Devotion.

Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono