JAKARTA, Indonesia - Taking a major step toward greater democracy, Indonesia's top legislature changed the constitution to allow direct presidential elections and to end reserved seats for the military in Parliament. Both reforms will take effect in 2004.
The 700-member People's Consultative Assembly also rejected calls for the imposition of Islamic law in the world's most populous Muslim nation as it wrapped up its annual two-week session on Saturday.
The assembly's decision to abolish its own role as an electoral college that picks the country's leader is regarded as the most important constitutional change since the 1960s, when Indonesia lurched from chaos to former dictator Suharto's 32-year rule.
The move could also pave the way for another five-year term for President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who is currently the country's most popular politician. Megawati, the daughter of Indonesia's founding father Sukarno, is expected to win re-election easily.
When assembly Speaker Amien Rais asked the delegates to agree on a direct presidential ballot, they chorused: "Agreed."
All the measures endorsed on Saturday were adopted by consensus rather than by open ballot to avoid having any side seen as being publicly defeated.
Since Dutch colonial rule ended after World War II, the assembly has elected the country's head of state for a five-year term. But legislators and pro-democracy groups have been pressing since 1998 for a direct vote by Indonesia's 210 million people.
The country's 1945 Constitution also created a strong presidency, with ministers answering to the head of state, not Parliament. The president was given vast powers, including the right to rule on a wide range of matters by decree.
Gen. Suharto — who came to power in a military coup in 1966 — rigged six consecutive ballots starting in 1971. He was ousted four years ago after massive pro-democracy protests.
The proposal approved Saturday calls for a two-stage election for president in 2004, in case no candidate wins an outright majority in the first round.
Legislators also agreed to abolish 38 unelected parliamentary seats reserved under Suharto for the politically powerful security forces by 2004, rather than by 2009 as previously envisaged.
Although hardliners among the traditionally dominant army brass opposed the move, it gained the backing of reformers in the air force, navy and police.
"This means that the military and police will be concentrating more on professionalism," said Rear Adm. Franky Kaihatu, a military legislator.
Two Muslim parties withdrew their proposal to introduce "sharia" or Islamic law after strong opposition from other parties and the country's largest religious organizations.
"We agreed that the article on the freedom of religion will remain unchanged in the 1945 Constitution," said Jusuf Muhammad, a leader of the National Awakening Party, a moderate Muslim party that advocates keeping Indonesia a secular state.
Every session of the assembly since Suharto's overthrow has seen an attempt to introduce Islamic law. It has never attracted significant support.
The assembly — comprising 500 members of the regular parliament and 200 representatives of local communities and special interest groups — meets each August to evaluate government policies and set guidelines for coming year.