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Thousands rally in defense of democracy
Waves of protest erupted in multiple cities across the country on Thursday after lawmakers attempted to annul changes to election laws made earlier by the Constitutional Court, a reversal that would have favored the alliance of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his successor Prabowo Subianto.
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Protesters block access to the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Aug. 22, 2024, in protest at a move to reverse the Constitutional Court decision altering eligibility rules for candidates in key elections later this year. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
T
he House of Representatives has announced that it will back down from its recent attempts to revise the prevailing 2016 Regional Elections Law, amid mass demonstrations nationwide calling on lawmakers to abide by a Constitutional Court ruling and safeguard the country’s failing democracy.
The backlash came after the House Legislation Body (Baleg) on Wednesday rushed to revise the prevailing Regional Elections Law just a day after the Constitutional Court issued two rulings to revoke a minimum threshold requirement to nominate candidates in the upcoming regional head elections and keep the minimum age limit of 30 years for candidates at the time of registration.
The House’s plan to unwind the court rulings would have blocked a vocal government critic from running for the influential post of Jakarta governor, and ensure the door remained open for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's youngest son to run for governor of Central Java.
Representing outgoing President Jokowi’s administration, Home Minister Tito Karnavian and Law and Human Rights Minister Supratman Andi Agtas of president-elect Prabowo Subianto’s Gerindra Party also endorsed the revision.
Thousands of protesters, however, consisting of workers, activists, students and public figures, gathered outside the House complex in Senayan in Central Jakarta, where barbed wire and concrete barriers were erected in front of the entrance. The rally participants called on lawmakers to refrain from passing the revision to the law.
Scenes of chaos unfolded as youths managed to tear down the fence on two sides of the House complex, prompting a clash between security personnel and demonstrators who rushed into the compound.
“Indonesia’s democracy is in an emergency,” a banner held by one of the protesters stated. Another one read: “Return the people’s sovereignty.”
