Indonesians Protest Election Bill, Attempt to Storm Parliament
Nationwide protests erupted in Indonesia on Thursday as thousands of citizens expressed their outrage over a proposed election bill believed to strengthen President Joko Widodo’s political dynasty.
In the capital, Jakarta, a protest outside the parliament building escalated into violence when over 2,000 demonstrators set tyres on fire and attempted to breach the complex’s gates. Riot police quickly intervened, clashing with protesters who managed to get past metal barricades as thick smoke filled the air from burning tyres.
Elsewhere, in the city of Semarang, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a crowd trying to storm the local legislative council building. Similar protests were reported in several cities across the country.
The source of public anger is a new election bill currently being debated in parliament. The bill, drafted just a day after the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of opening regional elections to smaller parties and independent candidates, is seen as a move by lawmakers to reverse the court’s decision. Parliament, largely controlled by parties loyal to Joko Widodo and his successor, President-elect Prabowo Subianto, pushed the bill forward despite widespread dissent.
Prabowo, set to take office in October, is expected to inherit the fallout from the controversial bill.
