Protests Against Excessive Allowances for Deputies in Indonesia

• Thousands of people protested against excessive allowances for deputies
• The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters
• The demonstrators demand the cancellation of corrupt allowances

In the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, thousands of students, workers, and activists organized mass protests against large allowances for deputies. The protest took place on September 26, 2025, when demonstrators attempted to march to the parliament, demanding the cancellation of the current housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (3,075 US dollars), which is 10 times higher than the minimum wage in Jakarta.

In response to the protest, the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd, which threw stones and bricks. More than 1,200 rights defenders were detained to protect the parliament building. The authorities blocked several streets, which led to serious disturbances in the city.

Demonstrators also expressed protest against corruption in the government, accusing the "corrupted elite," particularly in the growing role of the military in civilian life. Legislation passed in the past allows the military to occupy more civilian positions. The protest was held against the backdrop of media coverage of the media economy, which is promoted by President Prabowo Subianto, including cuts to education funding and health care protection.

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Mahara, stated that the allowances were a retail topic and were directly linked to the current prices in Jakarta. Corruption is a widespread problem in Indonesia, where activists claim that the police and deputies are perceived as corrupt.

Tags: Politics