Protecting two presidents: legislative decline in Indonesia's post-2024 election transition

This study examines Indonesia's legislative decline following the February 2024 presidential election, focusing on parliament's role in facilitating power transfer from President Joko Widodo to President-elect Prabowo Subianto. While existing scholarship emphasises the executive branch's role in democratic decline, this article argues that a strategic parliament has facilitated the incoming regime while maintaining the incumbent president’s central position. Drawing from elite interviews, the study reveals authoritarian strategies to prevent protests and expedite legislation. This shift from executive to legislative-driven democratic erosion threatens transparency, accountability, and inclusive policymaking, while establishing a fundamental formula for Prabowo’s incoming government. The analysis demonstrates how legislative bodies can be weaponised to erode democratic norms under the facade of parliamentary procedure, marking a significant development in Indonesia's democratic backsliding.