The Indonesian parliament voted to amend the constitution so that the President will be elected directly by the people. The Indonesian parliament, known as the People's Consultative Assembly and consisting of 700 members, approved the constitutional amendment today before the end of its ten-day annual session. Advocates and pro-democracy groups had pressured the People's Consultative Assembly to implement reforms to the current constitution. According to this law, the President and Vice President will be elected by the People's Consultative Assembly. However, under today's amendment, starting in 2004, these two positions will be elected by direct popular vote. This is considered the most significant political development in Indonesia in the past four decades.
Constitutional Reform in Indonesia - 2002-08-10
The Indonesian parliament approved a constitutional amendment allowing for the direct election of the President and Vice President by the people starting in 2004. This change follows pressure from pro-democracy groups and marks a significant political shift in Indonesia. It is a crucial step towards enhancing democratic governance in the country.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Indonesian parliament voted to amend the constitution to allow for the direct election of the President and Vice President by the people starting in 2004. This amendment is seen as a major step towards strengthening democracy in Indonesia.
- The amendment was approved by the People's Consultative Assembly, which has 700 members.
- This change represents the most significant political development in Indonesia in the last 40 years.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Indonesia has experienced significant political changes since the end of Suharto's regime, moving towards a more democratic system. The direct election of leaders is a key aspect of this transformation.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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