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Representation is a very important issue when it comes to parliaments and electoral systems. Of the many electoral models, Indonesia chose to implement a proportional system to create a more balanced parliament. In this system, the percentage of seats in parliament distributed to political parties is adjusted to the number of votes obtained during the election.

There are three models of proportional systems that have been applied for DPR and DPRD elections. First, the closed proportional system. Second, semi-open proportional. Third, open proportional.

The closed proportional electoral system was implemented in the 1955 elections, the New Order elections, and the 1999 elections. The semi-open proportional system was applied in the 2004 elections. Indonesia has been using an open proportional system since the 2009 elections until (at least) the 2024 elections.

The three proportional system models have their own advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately, there is a problem that remains unanswered, which is related to women’s representation. There are special matters of women that are not touched if policies are only made by men, therefore, women’s participation in parliament needs to be increased. At least 30% of women’s representation in parliament is needed so that women’s voices and interests can be considered.

In order to achieve 30% women’s representation, affirmative action is needed as a form of positive discrimination to encourage women’s representation in parliament. Article 245 of Law No. 7/2017, requires the list of candidates determined by political parties to contain at least 30% women’s representation. The question that then arises is why affirmative action has not succeeded in realizing a more ideal parliamentary composition?

Hidden Problems

There is an invisible problem in Indonesia’s electoral design that causes affirmative action to fail to encourage women’s representation in parliament. Political parties are indeed required to nominate at least 30% female candidates in the nomination list. However, through an open proportional system, the authority to choose candidates for parliament is in the hands of voters. The public can vote directly for their preferred candidates, whether they are women or men.

Unfortunately, in a patriarchal society, female candidates will find it difficult to compete with male candidates. Voters will still tend to choose male candidates who are seen as superior to lead and make decisions. The view that women are unfit to enter politics also influences voters’ decisions in choosing candidates.

In addition to competing with other parties, candidates also compete with other candidates within the party. In the context of women candidates, parties will tend to nominate artists or candidates with strong economic capital. Given the high economic inequality in Indonesia, women candidates who come from the grassroots will certainly find it more difficult to participate in this high-cost contestation.

Solution Offer

The offer that can be implemented to encourage women’s representation in parliament is through a closed proportional system. The closed proportional electoral system has advantages over the open proportional system. Political parties can be more free to determine the names that will later sit in parliament.

The rule that currently requires a minimum of 30% female candidates in the permanent candidate list can be changed to a minimum of 30% female board members for each political party that qualifies for parliament. There is a big difference between sending candidates and sending party representatives in parliament. While an open proportional system can only regulate the candidates to be nominated, a closed proportional system allows political parties to directly regulate the proportion of women’s representation in parliament. This system will be fairer for potential female candidates who have difficulty competing in an open proportional system because their names are less known and they do not have large campaign capital.

Another solution is to implement a pure zipper system in the nomination of board members. Currently, the electoral system in Indonesia has indeed implemented a zipper system, but not a pure zipper system where in the order of numbers 1, 2, and 3 onwards are filled by 2 men and 1 woman. The application of a pure zipper system should encourage the proportion of 2 women to 1 man.

The application of the zipper system is currently regulated by Article 246 of Law 7/2017. This article stipulates that in every 3 candidates, there is at least 1 female candidate. By applying a pure zipper system, the potential for female candidates to be elected will increase because their names are in a higher order. Furthermore, political parties need to be encouraged to place female candidates at number 1 in at least 30% of the electoral districts.

Finally, it is necessary to massively educate the public about the importance of women’s involvement in politics. This role is not only carried out by election organizers but also needs an active role from political parties, including to carry out political literacy related to the significance of women’s representation in parliament. If awareness has been built, the community can sanction political parties that do not have good intentions to encourage women’s representation by not voting for these political parties. []

 

ANNISA ALFATH
Researcher at the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem)

This article was published on rumahpemilu.org on May 27, 2024 with the title “Modification of Election System to Cita 30% Women’s Representation”, https://rumahpemilu.org/modifikasi-sistem-pemilu-untuk-cita-30-keterwakilan-perempuan/