Abstract
The first Indonesian general election was held in 1955. Although the election process was fair and democratic, the outcome was not increasing the stability of parliamentary democracy. So, President Soekarno proclaimed martial law in 1957. In 1960, Soekarno dissolved the People’s Representative Council (DPR) and established the People’s Representative Council of Mutual Assistance (DPR-GR). The membership was determined by the president. By 1967, General Suharto had wrested all power from President Soekarno. Suharto banned the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). In 1969, the government passed an election law that set membership of the DPR at 360 elected and 100 appointed members. In 1999 election after Suharto stepped down, 38 seats were reserved for the military/police faction. Since 2004 election, all seats were elected. There are no appointed military officers in DPR though the military are not given the voting rights for political stability since 1971 election.
