The Indonesian Constitutional Court (MK) has issued a landmark ruling mandating that political parties must maintain a minimum of 30 percent female representation among their legislative candidates. In a decisive move to strengthen gender equality in politics, the Court announced that parties failing to meet this quota will face severe sanctions, including being disqualified from the respective electoral districts.
Responding to the verdict, the Secretary-General of the Demokrat Party, Herman Khaeron, noted that the 30 percent requirement has been a standard feature of previous elections. According to Khaeron, the Court’s latest ruling primarily serves to formalize and tighten the enforcement of these existing regulations.
“This requirement has been in place for some time, including specific regulations for candidate lists where at least one out of every three names must be a woman,” Khaeron stated on Monday. He added that while the new legal provisions make the rules more stringent by introducing clear sanctions, the Demokrat Party has already been adhering to these standards.
Khaeron emphasized that achieving the 30 percent threshold is not a significant hurdle for political parties. He pointed out that the Demokrat Party successfully implemented this requirement during the 2024 general elections and remains committed to supporting female representation in the legislative process.
The Constitutional Court’s decision came after it partially granted a judicial review regarding female representation within the Election Law. Chief Justice Suhartoyo delivered the verdict, which specifically amends Article 245 of Law Number 7 of 2017. This article governs the nomination of candidates for the House of Representatives (DPR), as well as provincial and regional legislative bodies (DPRD).
The original version of Article 245 stated that candidate lists must include at least 30 percent female representation. However, the amended version now explicitly states that if this 30 percent threshold is not fulfilled, the General Elections Commission (KPU) at the national, provincial, or regional level must disqualify or bar the political party from participating in that specific electoral district.
This significant legal challenge was initiated by four students: Maya Novita Sari, Imas Dion Febriani, Cahya Camila Evanglin, and Fatati Nailul Munadia. Their petition has effectively transformed the 30 percent quota from a general guideline into a strictly enforceable legal requirement, ensuring a more inclusive political landscape in Indonesia.
Summary
The Indonesian Constitutional Court (MK) has issued a landmark ruling mandating that political parties maintain a minimum of 30 percent female representation among their legislative candidates. Parties failing to meet this quota will now face severe sanctions, including disqualification from the respective electoral districts. This decision amends Article 245 of Law Number 7 of 2017, making the 30 percent female quota a strictly enforceable legal requirement rather than a general guideline.
Responding to the verdict, the Secretary-General of the Demokrat Party, Herman Khaeron, stated that his party has long adhered to this 30 percent requirement. He noted that the Court’s ruling primarily formalizes and strengthens the enforcement of existing regulations, which the Demokrat Party successfully implemented in the 2024 general elections. Khaeron emphasized that achieving this threshold is not a significant hurdle for political parties committed to supporting female representation.