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Abstract

This research aims to analyze the changes in the threshold number of votes obtained from general elections as a condition to be included in determining the acquisition of parliamentary seats, or from now on abbreviated as `Parliamentary Threshold,' which occurred in several countries that adhere to the democratic system, namely Indonesia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Serbia. This article employs a normative legal research method, utilizing legal principles, history, and regulations as primary references, and then making comparisons. This research found that although the numbers of Parliamentary Thresholds in these countries vary, and the changes are some by increasing and some by decreasing, the determination of these numbers has a common goal: maintaining political stability or a situation of efficient decision-making without debate and minimal criticism in parliament. It was also found that instead of resulting in increased representation, strengthening the party system, improving political representation in the legislature, and government stability, changes to the Parliamentary Threshold numbers were used to narrow the constitutional rights of electoral contestants. In countries that lower the Parliamentary Threshold, major parties use the change as a tool to maintain their existence in parliament. As for those countries that raised it, instead of creating stability in government, conflicts between supporters still occur, such as in Serbia. From this article's research findings, reviewing the Parliamentary Threshold changes and removing them from the constitution and electoral law is important.

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