Indonesia shelves plan to revise election law as protests rage

FILE PHOTO: Indonesian President Joko Widodo gestures as he delivers his annual State of the Nation Address, ahead of the country's Independence Day, in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 16, 2024. Bagus Indahono/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesia's parliament shelved planned changes to electoral laws on Thursday after protesters in the capital set fires and faced down tear gas and water cannon over legislation they say would weaken opponents of the outgoing president and his successor.

The legislature, dominated by supporters of outgoing President Joko Widodo and his successor, Prabowo Subianto, was scheduled to vote to reverse changes to election laws made by the constitutional court, a ruling that effectively reopened a chance for a vocal government critic to run in regional elections.