Jokowi, a former poster boy of the country's democracy, has turned into a patronage patriarch that many have compared to Soeharto, who ruled the country for over 30 years until a prodemocracy uprising forced him to step down in 1998.

Jokowi, too, has seen his powers upended by a nationwide protest in support for democracy. Thousands took to streets on Aug. 22 to resist revision of the Regional Elections Law that would otherwise strengthen the dominance of the Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM), a new political establishment that has supported the creation of a Jokowi political dynasty.     

Before the uprising, Jokowi seemed invincible in all realms of state powers, including the legislature and judiciary. The KIM, the force behind the electoral victory of Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Jokowi’s eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka in the February presidential race, was on track to supporting Jokowi’s son-in-law Bobby Nasution and youngest son Kaesang Pangarep in the November regional elections. 

In a strong pushback against the Constitutional Court rulings that had tried to protect the country's democracy, the coalition had deliberated overnight the law revision that would be unstoppable if the people did not organize themselves even faster to stage the largest protest that the country has seen in the past five years.

The protest that began outside of the House of Representatives building in Jakarta quickly spread to other cities. Thousands flocked to defend their right to vote in regional elections amid Jokowi’s and KIM’s plan to force their candidates against people’s will, including the legally underage Kaesang, and to seize control of regions and their resources.  

A civil movement calling for an "Emergency Warning" flooded not only social media, but also music concerts and university events.