C

hanges will mark the new House of Representatives after the General Elections Commission (KPU) allocated on Wednesday all the 560 seats at the legislative body to the successful candidates, or so it appears. Almost half the lawmakers for the 2014-2019 term are newcomers, although that does not mean they are inexperienced in politics.

Given the graft-tainted image of the current House, it is simply natural for more than 125 million voters who cast their ballots in the April 9 legislative election to pin their hopes on the rookies to push the House to push through political reforms that will lead the nation to full-fledged democracy.

As legislative candidates, the new faces '€” young and old, women and men '€” enlivened the election and encouraged voters to exercise their right last month. In fact, voter turnout exceeded 75 percent this year, up from 71 percent five years ago, likely due in part to the entry of the new
contenders.

A number of celebrities secured tickets to Senayan, the area where the House building is located, but there is nothing much we can do about them because democracy opens the door for them to play a role in the national policy making process by simply banking on their popularity.

But there are still reasons to cherish the new-look House because of the arrival of young and energetic politicians, who are expected to spark innovation and new ideas in line with their professional backgrounds. No less heartening is the election of candidates who represent minority groups, like Jalaluddin Rahmat, a prominent Shia Muslim figure, who will test the level of tolerance and maturity of the legislative body.

When it comes to gender, however, only fewer than 80 female lawmakers will take office in the next House. The figure accounts for 14 percent of House seats, which remains far below the accepted '€œfair'€ ratio of 30 percent advised in the 2012 Election Law, and below the current level of 18 percent.

This may constitute a setback, but blame it on the political parties that failed to select capable female candidates for the election. Most parties reportedly recruited female candidates just to fulfill the mandatory allocation of 30 percent, without considering their capabilities, let alone electability. While the male-dominated House is unsurprising, it will be imperative for the public, particularly women groups, to mount pressure on the lawmakers to promote and protect the rights of women, who make up the majority of Indonesia'€™s population.

The new faces enter the House at the expense of incumbents who failed in their bid for reelection. Among the exiting lawmakers are big names, including House Speaker Marzuki Alie and deputy speaker Priyo Budi Santoso from the Democratic Party and Golkar Party, respectively. On the bright side, however, the departure of many incumbents indicates there is circulation of elites.

After all, it is voters who want the regime change, which will see the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) assume leadership of the House from the Democratic Party.