Poll: Indonesians Protest Against Government’s Boycott of Smaller Parties

Thousands of people in Indonesia have protested against the government’s efforts to overturn a ruling by the constitutional court, which would allow candidates from smaller parties to challenge them in elections.

Demonstrators assembled outside the parliament building in the capital city, Jakarta, as well as in other major cities like Padang, Bandung, and Yogyakarta.

Indonesia’s highest court had ruled that  political parties would not require a minimum of 20% representation in their regional assemblies to put forward a candidate.

However, within 24 hours, parliament introduced an emergency motion to reverse this ruling, an action that has led to widespread criticism and concerns about a potential constitutional crisis.

The swiftly processed legislation, which will undo parts of the court’s ruling, is anticipated to be passed later on Thursday.

It would preserve the current system, which benefits parties in the ruling coalition of the outgoing president, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, and his successor, Prabowo Subianto. Consequently, many local elections are expected to become uncontested.

The parliamentary decision also implies that a prominent government critic, Anies Baswedan, would be barred from standing for the powerful position of Jakarta governor.

The Indonesian government is also seeking ways to bypass the constitutional court’s ruling to maintain the existing minimum age limit of 30 for candidates, which would prevent Widodo’s 29-year-old son, Kaesang Pangarep, from competing in a regional election in Central Java.

Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is the incoming vice president who ran on a ticket with Prabowo.

Analysts suggest that the power struggle between Indonesia’s parliament, which is heavily influenced by Widodo’s supporters, and the country’s constitutional court could trigger a political crisis.

Blue posters have taken to social media to feature the word "Emergency Warning" above Indonesia’s symbolic national eagle.

According to an elections analyst at the University of Indonesia, Titi Anggraini, the parliamentary move to overturn the court’s decision is unconstitutional. “This is a robbery of the constitution."