Election law changes spark mass protests in Indonesia

Protesters have gathered outside parliament in the capital, Jakarta. Getty Images

Jakarta, August 22 - Thousands in Indonesia have gathered to protest against their government's attempts to reverse a constitutional court ruling that would open up elections to their rivals from smaller parties.

Demonstrators have gathered outside parliament in the capital Jakarta, as well as other major cities such as Padang, Bandung and Yogyakarta.

On Wednesday, Indonesia's top court ruled that parties would not need a minimum 20% of representation in their regional assemblies in order to field a candidate.

Yet within 24 hours, parliament tabled an emergency motion to reverse these changes - a move which has sparked widespread condemnation and fears of a constitutional crisis.

The fast-tracked legislation, which will reverse parts of the court's ruling, is expected to pass later on Thursday.

It would maintain the status quo, which favours parties in the ruling coalition of the outgoing president, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, and his successor, Prabowo Subianto. As a result, many local elections are expected to be uncontested affairs.

The parliament decision also means that a major government critic, Anies Baswedan, would also be prevented from running for the influential post of Jakarta governor.

The Indonesian government is also trying to find a way around the constitutional court's decision to uphold the current minimum age limit of 30 for candidates, which would bar Mr Widodo's 29-year-old son, Kaesang Pangarep, from running in a regional contest in Central Java.

Mr Widodo's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is the incoming vice-president who ran alongside Mr Prabowo.

Observers say the power struggle between Indonesia's parliament - which is dominated by supporters of Mr Widodo - and the country's constitutional court could precipitate a political crisis.

But Mr Widodo has downplayed the dispute, saying the amendments were part of the "checks and balances" of government.

One of the protesters, Joko Anwar, said the country's leaders appeared to be intent on keeping themselves in power.

"Eventually, we'll just become a powerless mass of objects, even though we’re the ones who gave them power," he said.

"We have to take to the streets. We have no choice," he said.

On social media, blue posters with the words "Emergency Warning" above Indonesia's symbolic national eagle have been widely shared.

According to Titi Anggraini, an elections analyst at University of Indonesia, parliament's move to annul the court's decision is unconstitutional.

"This is a robbery of the constitution," she told BBC Indonesian.