CNN
—
Indonesia’s legislature will not ratify any changes to electoral rules during the current government’s term, its deputy speaker said on Thursday, as demonstrations erupted outside parliament and security forces used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters.
Sufmi Dasco Ahmad told Reuters that deliberations would continue in the next session of parliament, meaning it would not apply to this year’s elections or the term of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who leaves office in October.
Television footage showed security forces using tear gas and water cannon as protesters broke through the gates of parliament and set part of it on fire. At the same time, demonstrations broke out across the country against planned changes to the electoral law.
Jokowi’s parliamentary allies had tried to overturn a court ruling on the law. If successful, the ruling would bar a vocal critic of the president’s government from running for the important post of governor of Jakarta.
The move would also have paved the way for Jokowi’s youngest son to run in elections in Central Java in November this year.
Thousands gathered outside parliament carrying signs accusing President Joko Widodo of destroying democracy. Others carried a replica of a guillotine bearing his image.
The protests were triggered by a dispute over which government authority has the authority to decide on voting rights.
Parliament had planned to ratify legislative changes on Thursday that would have overturned a Constitutional Court decision earlier this week.
In view of the large protests, Parliament initially postponed its plan, saying that a quorum had not been reached during the plenary session. Later on Thursday, it officially put the plan on hold.
The power struggle between parliament and the court has sparked outrage in the world’s third-largest democracy, with Jokowi facing increasing criticism for what analysts say is an attempt to consolidate his power before he steps down in October this year.
Jokowi, who has served the maximum two terms, will be replaced on October 20 by President-elect Prabowo Subianto and his eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
