TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The election bill has been passed into law at the plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR). Six factions agreed to adopt package A that proposes 20 or 25 percent presidential threshold.
DPR Speaker Setya Novanto presided over the plenary to pass the election bill after three other House leaders walked out in disagreement of package A, joining four DPR factions who did so.
Read: Election Bill Deadlock, House Speaker: Do Not Pressure Jokowi
Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo who attended the plenary said that the election law is a legal basis for the government and political parties ahead of the 2019 simultaneous general elections.
The plenary meeting to pass the election bill split the DPR into two opposing sides. The meeting saw some faction members walked out as they feel outnumbered.
One side consisted of government-supporting parties: the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Golkar, Nasdem, Hanura, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP).
The other side comprised of Gerindra, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and Democrat Party. The National Mandate Party was the only government-supporting party that rejected package A and walked out of the meeting.
The government-supporting parties backed the 20-25 percent presidential threshold which was one of the main points in package A. Meanwhile, the opposition had insisted in passing package B that proposes 0 percent presidential threshold.
YOHANES PASKALIS PAE DALE