Indonesian Citizens Protest Against Congress for Amending Laws for Jokowi's Son | WPN World People News

On the 20th, Indonesia's Constitutional Court ruled that candidates for local executive positions must be at least 30 years old. However, Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who has been nominated by a political party to run for vice governor of Central Java, will only turn 30 on December 25. This means that the court’s ruling effectively disqualifies Kaesang from running. In response, the Indonesian Congress immediately began deliberating a law amendment to relax the age requirement, sparking large-scale protests across the country.

On the 22nd, thousands of people nationwide took to the streets in response to the call. Angry protesters gathered in front of the Congress, holding banners and signs, attempting to push down barriers, setting tires on fire, throwing stones at police, and forming human walls to confront riot police, leading to intense physical clashes. The police deployed over a thousand officers, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.

Many people believe that the Congress's move to amend the Constitutional Court’s ruling is aimed at paving the way for President Jokowi’s son, Kaesang, to run, thereby enhancing Jokowi’s political influence as he nears the end of his term. They argue that this action is politically motivated and undermines democracy.

In the face of the public outrage, the Congress, which had planned an emergency amendment, postponed the discussion due to a lack of quorum. Congress Vice Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad stated that the bill to amend the electoral laws will be reconsidered in the next legislative session, meaning it will not be approved before President Jokowi's term ends.