Indonesia revokes controversial electoral law after thousands of protesters storm parliament

JakartaIndonesia’s parliament on Thursday rejected a controversial bill introducing changes to election laws after thousands of people stormed parliament to protest against the legislation, setting fires and facing tear gas and water cannons. Critics of the bill argued that the legislation would weaken opponents of outgoing President Joko Widodo and his successor Prabowo Subianto.

Indonesia’s legislature, dominated by Widodo’s supporters, was set to vote to overturn changes to election laws made by the constitutional court on voting procedures, a ruling that effectively reopened an opportunity for Subianto’s rival, Anies Baswedan, a vocal critic of the government, to run in regional elections.

“It was stated that the revision of the regional electoral law cannot be implemented. This means that the revision of the regional electoral law will not be implemented today,” Vice President Sufmi Dasco Ahmad told reporters in Jakarta. Protesters occupied the streets in front of the building. Some carried banners and signs, while others started a fire and burned tires.

What was the controversy?

Thousands of protesters gathered outside Indonesia’s parliament to protest against the move to overturn the court ruling, carrying signs accusing Widodo, popularly known as “Jokowi,” of nepotism and destroying democracy. Some even carried a mock guillotine with his face on it. Analysts described the protests as a sign of growing anger at Widodo’s attempts to consolidate power.

Security forces fired tear gas and water cannons as protesters breached and set fire to parts of parliament’s gates, as demonstrations erupted across the country against changes to the electoral law.

On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court lowered the threshold for party support for a candidate in regional elections from 20 to 10 percent of seats, giving Anies the chance to be nominated by the only party that has not named a candidate, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), in the local parliament. The national parliament had sought to return to the previous threshold, contradicting the court’s verdict.

The court also dismissed a challenge to the age limit that bars people under 30 from running in regional elections, which would prevent Widodo’s youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, 29, from running in regional elections in Central Java. Parliament passed an emergency motion to change the minimum age for governor to 30 and was expected to ratify the change on Thursday.

Judiciary and Legislature in Indonesia

The protests were sparked by a dispute over which branch of government has final jurisdiction to determine election rules, after parliament said it planned to ratify changes to the law on Thursday morning. Legal experts had warned of a constitutional crisis emanating from the ongoing standoff between parliament and the judiciary.

“This is a climax, we have reached a tipping point of anger and frustration,” said Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. Last year, the constitutional court changed the eligibility rules for elections, allowing Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to successfully run for vice president. Gibran and Prabowo will be sworn in on Oct. 20.

The power struggle followed dramatic political developments in the world’s third-largest democracy, including the surprise resignation of the leader of the Golkar party, who was replaced on Wednesday by a Jokowi supporter. Widodo’s term has ended with a better economic record, but mired in corruption and patronage politics.

(with contributions from agencies)

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