CIVICUS discusses recent protests following the Indonesian government’s attempt to change election rules with Alvin Nicola, Democratic Governance Program Manager at Transparency International Indonesia (TII). As part of the Transparency International network, TII works to expose corruption and hold those in power to account.
Protests erupted in August 2024 after outgoing President Joko Widodo’s ruling coalition attempted to change the electoral law to lower the minimum age for political candidates. The move, seen as an attempt to benefit Widodo’s son Kaesang Pangarep, came in defiance of a recent Constitutional Court ruling. Protests were held in several cities, including the capital, Jakarta, where police arrested protesters and used teargas and water cannon to disperse crowds.
