Thursday, July 10, 2008
Constitutional Court Rejects Electoral Threshold Article
Source: The Jakarta Post

The Constitutional Court (MK) on Thursday issued a verdict in favor of seven political parties to review the electoral threshold article in the 2008 Election Law.

MK chairman Jimly Asshiddiqie said the article was against the 1945 Constitution.

The article requires political parties without seats at the House of Representatives to be verified by the election commission. However, it exempts parties with seats at the House but fail to meet the electoral threshold from the verification process.

Jimly said all political parties, whether they meet the electoral threshold or not, must be treated equally by the law.

"Therefore, the request of the plaintiffs is reasonable and we approve it," he said.

The seven plaintiffs are the Regional Unity Party (PPD), the Liberation Bull National Party (PNBK), the Pancasila Patriot Party, the Social Democrat Labor Party (PBSD), the Indonesian Union Party (PSI), and the Freedom Party.