Indonesia Shelves Electoral Bill Amid Protests

Indonesian protesters clashed with police, attempting to storm parliament in reaction to proposed changes to election laws that critics say would bolster the political influence of outgoing President Joko Widodo and his successor, Prabowo Subianto. The protests led parliament to delay and eventually shelve the controversial bill, which aimed to reverse a constitutional court ruling that lowered the threshold for party representation, allowing smaller parties greater influence and enabling government critic Anies Baswedan to run for Jakarta governor. The proposed changes would have also allowed Widodo's 29-year-old son to run in regional elections despite not meeting the age requirement. Demonstrations erupted in multiple cities, with protesters setting fires and clashing with police, who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. This political turmoil underscores fears of a potential constitutional crisis and accusations of nepotism against Widodo.