JAKARTA: Thousands of students on Monday marched in cities around Indonesia to protest against rumours that the government was 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.
Widodo denied on Sunday that his administration was attempting to delay the vote after senior politicians, including a close ally, supported the idea, and ordered the Cabinet to explain that the election had been set for February 14, 2024.
"This needs to be explained so that there are no rumors circulating among people that the government is trying to postpone the election, or speculation about the extension of the president's tenure or a related third term," Widodo said at a Cabinet meeting on election preparations.
Authorities in capital Jakarta blocked streets leading to the heavily guarded presidential palace and Parliament building, where protesters attempted to march to demand that lawmakers not delay the election or amend the constitution to allow Widodo to run again in 2024.
"We demand that the lawmakers do not betray the country's constitution by amending it," said Kaharuddin, a protest coordinator. "We want them to listen to people's aspirations."
Presidents are limited to two terms under the first amendment to the Indonesian Constitution, which was passed in 1999, a year after dictator Suharto was toppled by massive pro-democracy protests.
The protesters chanted about protecting the country's democratic progress, and also against soaring fuel and food prices. Similar protests occurred in other cities, including Bandung, Yogyakarta, Makassar and Pontianak.
The protests are not associated with any particular party or group and are led by students, who historically have been a driving force of political change in Indonesia. Student demonstrations in 1998 triggered events that led longtime strongman, President Suharto, to step down.
Powerful political figures, including Cabinet ministers Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Airlangga Hartarto, who is also chair of the Golkar party in the governing coalition, have suggested that the election should be delayed.
Suharto ruled Indonesia for more than three decades under an authoritarian, often violent regime. During his rule, corruption and rights abuses became rampant as the elite plundered the economy. His downfall ushered in democracy, and the term limit is meant to prevent a repeat of the authoritarian past.
Last Wednesday, Widodo told his Cabinet to focus on addressing rising inflation instead of stirring controversy over the election. "Nobody should bring up a (presidential) term extension or election delay anymore. No more!" Widodo said.
Widodo said last June that he plans to adhere to the constitution after his supporters began rolling out the idea that his tenure could be extended through a constitutional amendment or election delay.
Supporters argued that Widodo needs more time to deal with the economy, which slumped during the pandemic, and completes his agenda, including a USD35 billion project to relocate the capital to the island of Borneo.
Despite denials, doubts about his intentions have persisted. "People are still sceptical about Jokowi's indecision regarding the third term," said Ujang Komarudin, a political analyst at Al-Azhar Indonesia University, using Widodo's popular nickname.
The alleged plans have deviated far from the constitution and would be a major blow for Indonesia's democratic reform.