IN Indonesian constitutional discourse, there are two main arguments that are often voiced to legitimize limiting the number of political parties.
First, the number of parties must be simplified for the sake of national stability. Second, the fewer the number of parties, the more effective the parliamentary performance will be.
If examined through the lens of history and real, objective data, these two arguments are actually just myths that are deliberately maintained in order to maintain the dominance of elite groups in Senayan.
The narrative of party simplification is always wrapped in the jargon of efficiency and stability.
This discourse has resurfaced amidst plans to revise the Election Law which is still unclear.
A number of political elites, such as the Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan DPP for example, have openly signaled support for raising the parliamentary threshold in order to realize a simple multiparty system.
The arguments that are built remain the same so that decision making in parliament runs more quickly and effectively (Tribunnews, 01/06/2026).
However, if we dissect this argument more deeply, is simplification really the answer to effectiveness, or is this just a systematic attempt to kill competition?
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历史记录表明，这一策略是新秩序政权为了控制民主人民共和国而使用的古老遗产。
1973年，当局以政治稳定为名，强迫10名选举参与者在Golongan Karya之外合并为两个政党（即PDI和PPP）。这就是广为人知的“派对融合”。
This forced simplification actually backfired on the party’s independence.
Internal conflict within these parties is a characteristic feature, which ultimately makes it easier for the executive to intervene.
In reality, it has been proven that it is much easier for oligarchs to control a small number of parties because the direction of all interests becomes centralized and easy to control.
Simplification, in this context, is not for the people, but rather a power control mechanism that limits the space for public participation.
In a simple forced system, opposition and alternative voices will always be suppressed by the power of a large coalition that tends to be one vote.
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