DPR ensures that the Supreme Court's decision of 30 percent of women's representation is the basis for revising the Election Law

Illustration of the DPR plenary session (Nailin/VOI)

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad has ensured that provisions regarding the requirements for women's representation in legislative elections will be included in the revision of the Election Law. This was conveyed following the Constitutional Court (MK) decision which sanctioned political parties that did not meet the 30 percent quota for women's representation.

"If the Supreme Court's decision is final and binding. So, I think, later we will include it in the revision of the Election Law," said Dasco at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, May 26.

Dasco stated that the DPR supported the Constitutional Court's decision because it was considered to strengthen the bias towards women in politics. "We support the existence of these conditions," he said.

The Chairman of the Gerindra Party considers the provision of a minimum of 30 percent of women's representation not a difficult thing for political parties to meet. According to him, many women have the capacity, integrity, and ability to enter the political world and become people's representatives at various levels.

"We think of course there are still many women who have the capacity that there are actually many examples that can be relied on to meet the quota for women to become legislators, both at the district/city, provincial, and DPR RI levels," said Dasco.

He emphasized that the Constitutional Court's decision is final and binding so that it must be a reference in the preparation of the revision of the Election Law in the future.

Previously, the Constitutional Court ruled that political parties that did not meet the minimum 30 percent representation of women in the legislative election could be deleted from the election membership.

The Constitutional Court considers Article 245 of the Election Law which does not regulate sanctions against parties that violate the provision on women's representation to be contrary to constitutional principles.

In its consideration, the Constitutional Court said the rule was not in line with the principles of people's sovereignty, honest and fair elections, and legal certainty as stipulated in the 1945 Constitution.