Indonesian MPs drop election bill to aid Jokowi’s son following widespread protests

Indonesian lawmakers failed to pass a bill Thursday that critics feared could entrench the political influence of outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, after mass protests against the legislation erupted nationwide, including Jakarta where demonstrators set fires in the street.

The regional election bill was drafted on Wednesday, only a day after a landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court that was hailed as a victory for democracy because it opens the political landscape to smaller parties and multiple candidates. 

“The scheduled ratification of the regional election law revision for today, Aug. 22, has been called off. As a result, the upcoming regional election registration on Aug. 27 will follow the Constitutional Court’s ruling,” Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, House deputy speaker, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The ruling overturned the previous requirement that parties or coalitions have 20% of seats on the provincial council or 25% of the popular vote to nominate candidates. Instead, it set new thresholds based on the size of the electorate in each province and was seen as a way to open the political landscape to smaller parties and independent candidates.

It also effectively disqualified Jokowi’s son, Kaesang Pangarep, 29, to run as a candidate for deputy governor of Jakarta because he would turn 30 after the Nov. 27 election. This, for now, halted what many observers have described Jokowi’s broader effort to expand his political dynasty – a similar ruling last year allowed his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to successfully run for vice president on the ticket with Prabowo Subianto, now Indonesia’s president-elect.

RELATED STORIES

Indonesian court’s electoral ruling may reshape politics, thwart ‘oligarchy’ of parties

Another Indonesian court issues ruling favoring a Jokowi scion, critics say

Mid-count surge in votes for Indonesian president’s son’s party raises fraud suspicions

On Thursday, MPs appeared to be taking a fast track to pass the bill, a stark contrast to the usual legislative pace in Indonesia where such processes can drag on for months or even years. 

Before they dropped the planned vote, over 2,000 people rallied outside the parliament building in Jakarta. The demonstration turned heated as protesters set fire to tires and attempted to breach the gates. 

“The Constitutional Court’s decision should be upheld as the highest authority. We can’t allow our country to be destroyed by just one person,” protester Aris Baihaqi, 21, a student at the State Islamic University in Jakarta, told BenarNews, referring to Jokowi. 

“We want the regional elections to be fairer,” he said. 

Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian, known for his reluctance to engage in political matters, and several other celebrities joined the protest.

“I have always been cautious in taking a stance and avoided politics,” Reza told the crowd while standing on the roof of a van. “But today, I can no longer remain silent. I cannot sleep peacefully at home while our democracy is at stake.”

Meanwhile, thousands turned out for similar rallies in other cities including Bandung, Yogyakarta and Samarinda.

In Semarang, police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters trying to storm the local legislative council’s building, local television reported. 

Jakarta governor’s race

The ruling dramatically altered the race for the governorship for the national capital region. Initially, it seemed that a candidate aligned with Prabowo, the president-elect, would run unopposed since nearly all parties on the Jakarta City Council backed him. 

The pro-Prabowo and Jokowi coalition had thrown its support behind the candidacy of Ridwan Kamil, an ex-governor of West Java. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which had been Jokowi’s party until the relationship soured, had lacked the necessary seats or votes to field its own candidate under the old rules but refused to support Ridwan.

Now, Anies Baswedan, a former Jakarta governor and a leading political figure who had been sidelined, could find renewed momentum as the PDI-P candidate in his bid for another term.

Analysts suggest that having ally Ridwan as Jakarta governor would be advantageous for Prabowo, as it would ensure seamless coordination between the policies of the central government and the country’s largest and most developed city.

Prabowo won 58.61% of the vote in the Feb. 14 presidential election, beating Anies and former Central Java Gov. Ganjar Pranowo in a three-way race.

Two watchdog groups criticized the election as the worst since Indonesia’s democratic transition 25 years ago, citing campaign finance issues and electoral fraud.

Anies claimed that Gibran’s candidacy as vice president influenced the election’s fairness. His campaign also alleged fraud and favoritism toward Prabowo, supported by Jokowi’s implicit endorsement.

On Wednesday, Jokowi responded to public outcry over the bill, saying he respected both the court and the parliament.

“The decision was made by the Constitutional Court, which is the judicial branch, and the current discussions in the House of Representatives are within the legislative branch,” Jokowi said.

“Yet, the focus remains on the carpenter,” he said, referring to himself with a nod to his humble beginnings as a furniture maker. “I, as president, honor the authority and decisions of each state institution.”

In a symbolic show of support for the Constitutional Court, dozens of activists, students, civil society members and prominent figures gathered in Jakarta on Thursday to present floral tributes.

Wanda Hamidah, an activist and politician, thanked the court for upholding the constitution and protecting democratic rights.

“Today, we are grateful to the Constitutional Court not just for preserving the Constitution’s dignity, but also for safeguarding our democratic rights in political competition,” Wanda said.