Jakarta: Indonesia’s legislature has decided not to ratify proposed changes to election rules during the current government’s term, according to Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad. This decision comes as protests erupted outside the parliament, with security forces deploying tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators.
Ahmad informed Reuters that deliberations on the election law will continue in the next parliamentary session, meaning the changes will not affect this year’s elections or President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration, which concludes in October.
The unrest intensified when protesters breached and set fire to part of the parliament’s gates, as shown in television footage. Demonstrations spread nationwide against the proposed amendments to the election law.
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Jokowi’s parliamentary allies had aimed to reverse a recent court ruling on the election law, which could prevent a prominent critic of Jokowi from running for Jakarta governor. Additionally, the changes would have enabled Jokowi’s youngest son to run for office in Central Java this November.
Protesters, numbering in the thousands, gathered outside parliament with signs accusing Jokowi of undermining democracy. Some demonstrators carried a mock guillotine featuring Jokowi’s likeness. The protests were ignited by a dispute over which government agency should oversee electoral laws.
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The parliament had originally planned to ratify the changes on Thursday to overturn the constitutional court’s recent decision. However, after facing significant backlash and failing to reach a quorum, the plan was officially shelved later that day.
The power struggle between the parliament and the court has fueled widespread discontent in Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy. Jokowi faces increasing criticism for what analysts perceive as efforts to consolidate his power before his term ends. Jokowi, who has served the maximum two terms, will be succeeded by president-elect Prabowo Subianto and vice-president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Jokowi’s eldest son, on October 20.
