Thousands of people have taken to the streets in multiple cities across Indonesia to protest against attempted revisions to the country’s election law.
Indonesia’s parliament postponed ratifying changes to the election rules on Thursday as protesters attempted to tear down the gates of the legislature in the capital, Jakarta, following an outcry over the legislation seen to strengthen the political influence of outgoing President Joko Widodo.
The plenary session to pass the changes was delayed due to a lack of a quorum, legislator Habiburokhman told reporters outside the parliament building.
It is unclear if parliament will reconvene to pass the law before the registration for regional elections opens next Tuesday.
The parliament planned to ratify changes that would have reversed a ruling by the constitutional court earlier this week. They would have blocked a vocal government critic in the race for the influential post of Jakarta governor and also paved the way for Widodo’s youngest son to run in elections in Java in November.
