Parties Respond to Court Ruling on Female Representation Quota

Indonesia's Constitutional Court has ruled that political parties will be disqualified from elections if they do not meet the requirement of nominating at least 30% female legislative candidates in each electoral district. The court stated that sanctions are necessary to enforce this quota, viewing it as a crucial measure to combat discrimination and enhance women's representation.

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The General Election Commission at each level must strike out or disqualify the participation of political party participants in electoral districts that do not meet the minimum quota of 30 percent female representation.

"The General Election Commission at each level must strike out or disqualify the participation of political party participants in electoral districts that do not meet the minimum quota of 30 percent female representation," stated Constitutional Court Justice Adies Kadir on May 25, 2026, while reading the decision on the judicial review of Article 245 of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections.

Political parties have begun to react to the court's decision. The Democratic Party, through its Deputy Chairman Dede Yusuf Macan Effendi, affirmed the party's historical commitment to female representation. "We even proposed the names of female legislative candidates to participate in the struggle," he said on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Yusuf added that the Democratic Party is prepared to uphold the 30% quota in future elections, noting that the disqualification sanction aligns with existing regulations. He also suggested that the matter be further discussed in revisions to the Election Law or General Election Commission regulations.

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We even proposed the names of female legislative candidates to participate in the struggle.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Secretary-General Muhammad Kholid described the ruling as positive for affirming and strengthening women's representation. He highlighted that PKS was the only party to meet the 30% quota across all 84 electoral districts in the 2024 legislative elections, attributing this success to the party's efforts in preparing female cadres for electoral contests. "Active participation pushes the number of female cadres we can prepare to be willing and ready to be nominated," Kholid explained.

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For affirmation or to strengthen women's representation.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) stated through its Central Executive Board Chairman Andreas Hugo Pareira that the party is observing the decision. Pareira indicated that meeting the minimum 30% female legislative candidate quota in each electoral district is not a difficult task for PDIP.

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Active participation pushes the number of female cadres we can prepare to be willing and ready to be nominated.