After being implemented through two electoral cycles, the affirmative action policy requiring a 30 percent quota for women began to demonstrate measurable results. While the 2004 Election resulted in women holding 11 percent of seats in the House of Representatives (DPR), 22 percent in the Regional Representative Council (DPD), 12 percent in provincial legislatures, and 6 percent in regency and municipal legislatures, the 2009 Election increased women’s representation to 18 percent in the DPR, 27 percent in the DPD, 16 percent in provincial legislatures, and 12 percent in regency and municipal legislatures.
However, this increase also introduced new challenges. The results of the 2009 Election showed that approximately 25 percent of elected women representatives were well-known public figures, while 41 percent came from political dynasties. The dominance of these two backgrounds would not necessarily be problematic if they were able to effectively carry out their legislative responsibilities. In practice, however, the outcome was often the opposite. It is at this point that the implementation of affirmative action policies warrants careful evaluation.
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