Thousands of people yesterday attempted to storm Indonesia’s parliament, tearing down a section of fence and throwing stones at police, and forcing the legislature to delay a vote on changes to election laws that could further enhance the political influence of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Parliament was to meet in an emergency session to overturn one decision made by the Indonesian Constitutional Court on election procedures, while amending another.
Protesters held banners and signs, while others started a fire and burned tires.
Photo: AP
The court on Tuesday dismissed a challenge to an age limit that prevents people younger than 30 for running for regional governorships, which would prevent Widodo’s youngest son, 29-year-old Kaesang Pangarep, from running in a regional contest in Central Java.
The court also made it easier for political parties to nominate candidates by cutting back a requirement that they hold 20 percent of a local legislature.
Parliament passed an emergency motion to changing the minimum age to serve as governor to 30 at the time of inauguration and further ease nomination requirements on Wednesday and planned to ratify the vote in a plenary session yesterday.
The moves triggered condemnation on local social media and raised concerns about a potential constitutional crisis.
The legislature was forced to delay the vote after failing to achieve a quorum.
Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is the incoming vice president after the same court created an exception to the age limit for the post for former regional leaders, while Widodo’s brother-in-law was serving as chief justice. He was criticized for participating in a case involving a close relative and later dismissed.
Rights advocates, students, workers, and Indonesian celebrities and musicians also joined the protest, voicing concerns about democracy in the nation.
Protests were also reported in other big cities, including Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Makassar.
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