PSI Recommends Reserved Seats for Female Candidates in the 2019 and 2024 Elections

Reserved seats or blocking seats policy is recommended by a member of the Special Committee for the new Elections Bill from People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) and supported by four other members from different parties. These members argue reserved seats policy will facilitate female candidates to participate in election and will make the 30 percent gender quota fully realized.

“Golongan Karya Party (Golkar), Indonesia Democracy Party-Struggle (PDI-P), Nation Awakening Party (PKB), and Grand Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) are all agree to support this recommendation. We can make it happen. I personally support reserved seats policy,” says the Chief of the Special Team, Muhammad Lukman Edy, in Jakarta (02/08).

This recommendation also supported by new party Indonesia Solidarity Party (PSI). However, PSI argues the reserved seats policy should only be implemented provisionally for the 2019 and 2024 Elections.

“The policy is necessary only to trigger more participation from female politicians,” says the Chairperson of PSI, Isyana Bagus Oka.

All parties that participate in the upcoming 2019 Concurrent National Election should start to prep up high quality female politicians. Latest development indicates that members of the Special Team will make the gender quota as an institutionalized policy.