Indonesia’s parliament proposed passing changes to an election law on Thursday, amid protests in multiple cities. This followed an outcry over a legislation seen to strengthen President Joko Widodo’s political influence.
However, there was a delay in the session to pass these changes in the parliament due to a lack of quorum. Legislator Habiburokhman said that it is unclear if the parliament can pass the law before the regional election registrations begin on Tuesday.
The parliament had planned to ratify the changes on Thursday morning. These changes could have reversed a ruling by the constitutional court earlier this week. The legislative changes would have blocked a vocal government critic in the race for the influential post of Jakarta governor. It would have also paved the way for Widodo’s youngest son to run in elections in Java this November.
Amid a week of dramatic political developments, a power struggle was seen between the parliament and judiciary. Indonesia is the world’s third-largest democracy and in the final leg of Widodo’s second term.
More than 1,000 demonstrators gathered on Thursday outside the parliament building in Jakarta and across multiple cities in Java. Many were seen holding banners accusing Jokowi of destroying democracy. Authorities fired tear gas at demonstrators in Semarang.
One of the protestors, a 29-year-old teacher, said, “this is the peak of my disdain. This is a republic. It’s a democracy, but if its leadership is decided by one person, or an oligarch, we can’t accept that.
Several legal and political experts see this power struggle as bordering on a constitutional crisis.
Jakarta’s currency and main stock index witnessed a midday slump. The country is hit by concerns of protests as well as the country’s widening current account deficit.
‘THIS IS A POWER STRUGGLE’
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday revoked a minimum threshold requirement to nominate candidates in regional elections. It declared the minimum age limit of 30 years for candidates.
That ruling effectively blocks the candidacy of the president’s 29-year-old son from contesting the race for deputy governor in Central Java. It also allows Anies Baswedan, the current favourite, to run in Jakarta.
However, within 24 hours, the parliament had tabled an emergency revision to annul the changes.
All parties except the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) agreed to the revision of the law.
“Indonesian democracy is once again at a crucial crossroads,” Anies posted on social media platform X, urging legislators to remember its fate rested in their hands.
The parliament is seeing domination coalitions aligned to the outgoing president and the president-elect, Prabowo Subianto. Subianto won a landslide victory in the elections in February. His vice president will be Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Hence, Jokowi is facing heavy criticism for consolidating power and penetrating through country governance in political ways.
When Jokowi was first elected, he was hailed as a democratic hero in 2014. He has been praised for this solid economic record. However, he has also been criticised heavily for the decline in democracy against the country’s institutions during his term.
(With inputs from Reuters)
