Hundreds in Indonesia take to the streets of Jakarta to protest talk of 2024 election delay

Protesters say it is a threat to democracy if President Joko Widodo postpones the 2024 presidential election to remain in office beyond the two-term legal limit

Demonstrators also railed against soaring food and oil prices, a controversial job law and the targeting of activists who oppose government policies

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Hundreds of protesters, mostly students, took to the streets, voicing concern over rumors that the government is considering postponing the 2024 presidential election to allow President Joko Widodo to remain in office beyond the two-term legal limit, calling it a threat to the country’s democracy. Photo: AP

Published: 9:20pm, 21 Apr 2022

Hundreds of protesters, mostly students, took to the streets on Thursday in Indonesia’s capital, voicing concern over rumours that the government is considering postponing the 2024 presidential election to allow President Joko Widodo to remain in office beyond the two-term legal limit, calling it a threat to the country’s democracy.

The demonstrators also railed against soaring food and oil prices, a controversial job law and the targeting of activists who oppose government policies.

Trade unions, farmer organizations and women’s groups also joined the protests, which were reignited following another demonstration on April 11 in front of the Parliament building in Jakarta, where police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds, and in other cities across the country. Calm had largely returned over the past 10 days.

Protesters are seen shouting slogans through the windscreen of a car during a rally outside the parliament in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday. Photo: AP

Authorities in Jakarta on Thursday blocked streets leading to the heavily guarded presidential palace and Parliament building. Protesters had marched there to demand that lawmakers not delay the election or amend the constitution to allow Widodo to run again in 2024.

Widodo has denied that his administration is attempting to delay the vote after senior politicians, including a close ally, supported the idea, and he ordered the Cabinet to confirm that the election has been set for February 14, 2024.

Despite denials, doubts about his intentions have persisted.

Thursday’s protest involved about 800 people, according to Jakarta police spokesman Endra Zulpan, who said that the crowd dispersed peacefully as darkness fell.