On Monday, hundreds of students protested in the capital Jakarta against what they allege has been outgoing President Joko Widodo’s interference in the election.
Jokowi is stepping down after two full terms in office.
But critics say he has abused his power in wrangling to get his eldest son on Prabowo Subianto’s ticket and that he’s thrown his immense popularity behind that ticket.
His 36-year-old son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is the running partner and vice-presidential candidate for Prabawo.
But he only managed to become eligible for the position after Indonesia’s Constitutional Court last year changed the rules – and the deciding vote on this was cast by none other than Jokowi’s brother-in-law, who is also the chief justice on the court.
Critics say this is Jokowi’s attempt at keeping his power in Indonesian politics, and it undermines democracy.
In the city of Yogyakarta on Java island this week, protesters banged bamboo instruments and carried posters reading “Bring Jokowi and his cronies to justice”.
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