Thousands of people rallied in several cities in Indonesia yesterday, pressuring its poll body to issue rules for regional elections amid outrage over an attempt by parliamentary allies of President Joko Widodo to change them in their favour.
The protests followed a day of demonstrations in which 301 people were detained and tear gas and water cannon used to disperse angry crowds outside parliament, which on Thursday shelved its controversial plan to amend eligibility rules on candidates, citing absence of a quorum.
The protests were accompanied by fury on social media at the influential Jokowi, as the president is known, who stood to gain from proposed changes that would have allowed his son to seek office in Central Java, and blocked an influential government critic from running for the high-profile post of Jakarta governor.
When asked about the protests, Jokowi said yesterday it is good for people to express their aspirations.
He said on Wednesday he respected Indonesia’s democratic institutions, when asked about the attempt by parliament to change the election rules.
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