Historical eventJuly 52004

Direct election

The first direct Indonesian presidential election is held.

Everything on July 5Original source

In context

When
Monday, July 5 200422 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
21st century · 2000s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 2004.

Type: electoral system.

What happened

History of direct presidential elections The idea that heads of state be elected directly by the people progressed slowly throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. [ 1 ] This differs from parliamentary systems where executives derive power from the legislative body. [ 2 ] Africa Many African nations have moved from parliamentary to presidential systems. Regardless of constitutional structures, presidents often have immense power over other political decision-making bodies. [ 3 ]

Direct election is a system of choosing political officeholders in which the voters directly cast ballots for the persons or political party that they want to see elected. The method by which the winner or winners of a direct election are chosen depends upon the electoral system used. The most commonly used systems are the plurality system and the two-round system for single-winner elections, such as a presidential election,

July 5 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 20042004 Indonesian presidential election
  2. 2004Direct election
  3. 2006United Nations Security Council
  4. 2006North Korea
  5. 2009Staffordshire Hoard
  6. 2009July 2009 Ürümqi riots
  7. 2012The Shard
  8. 2016Juno (spacecraft)
  9. 2022Sajid Javid
  10. 2023Ariane 5
  11. 2024Keir Starmer

Also in 2004

  • September 15National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announces lockout of the players' union and cessation of operations by the NHL head office.
  • September 16Hurricane IvanHurricane Ivan makes landfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama as a Category 3 hurricane.
  • January 3Flash Airlines Flight 604Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashed shortly after departure from Sharm El Sheikh International Airport which killed all 148 occupants on bo…
  • November 27Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II returns the relics of Saint John Chrysostom to the Eastern Orthodox Church.
  • November 27Blackwater 61 crashBlackwater 61 crash: A CASA C-212 Aviocar crashes into the Koh-i-Baba mountain range in Afghanistan, killing six.
  • September 3Beslan school siegeBeslan school siege ends, resulting in over 330 fatalities, including 186 children.
  • October 14MK Airlines Flight 1602MK Airlines Flight 1602 crashes during takeoff from Halifax Stanfield International Airport, killing all seven people on board.
  • October 14Pinnacle Airlines Flight 3701Pinnacle Airlines Flight 3701 crashes in Jefferson City, Missouri. The two pilots (the aircraft's only occupants) are killed.

Everything we record for 2004 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Direct election”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/direct-election-2004-july-5, accessed October 27, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Direct election happen?

July 5 2004 — 22 years ago, on a Monday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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