Jakarta – Females must make up at least 30 percent of a political party's candidate pool for the 2009 general elections and parties that do not adhere to this policy should be financially punished and removed from the election race, sociologists and researchers said.
Currently there are 61 female lawmakers in the House of Representatives. But 550 legislators were elected in the 2004 general election – and slightly more than half of the Indonesian population is made up of women.
Sociologist at the University of Indonesia Francisia Ery Seda said she recommended new political bills punish political parties violating the mandatory 30 percent female representation policy.
"Parties that do not reach 30 percent female participation must not be allowed to join the 2009 general election and the government must stop their subsidies," Francisia said Sunday.
Ani Soetjipto, a political studies researcher at the University of Indonesia, also said names of female and male candidates on election ballots should be fairly distributed.
"Ballot papers should list two male candidates followed by one female, or one male and two female candidates," Ani said. She also said bill drafts should demonstrate stronger legal wording.
Article 65 of Law 12/2003 on Political Party states political parties can nominate 30 percent of female representatives as their legislator candidates. "The phrasing for the article should be changed from can or consider to must," she said.
Ani said the law had not succeeded in increasing female participation because most parties viewed this article as a recommendation, not a rule.
"On the other hand, the new political party bill drafted by the government stipulates parties consider nominating a minimum of 30 percent of female candidates," she said.
Francisia said the political party bill should also state the party's membership was comprised of 30 percent females at all levels, including party leadership.
"Most female candidates starting their political careers as party executives usually make it to the House," she said. "But political parties are usually dominated by men. So their policies are lacking in affirmative action to support female participation."
Saldi Isra, a legal expert from the University of Andalas, said the amendment of the political party law must be followed by a party's internal rulings.
"This law must be synchronized with other political laws," Saldi said. "All political laws must state the minimum 30 percent of female political representation."
A legislator from the United Development Party, Lena Maryana, said her party had applied the minimum quota of female participation in seven provincial executive boards.
Chairman of the House's special committee deliberating political party, Ganjar Pranowo, said female participation was a sensitive issue because not all parties could fulfill the minimum quota.
Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, who chairs the House special committee deliberating the bills on presidential elections, said parties should share the same political views on gender sensitivity to smooth-out deliberation over the bill.