Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Resigns After Court Rulings Question His Education Credentials

Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has resigned. On Thursday (12 November), he went to the parliament building in the capital, Jakarta, and submitted his resignation letter to the leadership of the People's Consultative Assembly, the country's highest legislative body. The decision came as questions grew over his eligibility for the office.

Raka, 39, is the son of former President Joko Widodo. Last month, the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled that the documents Raka submitted regarding his overseas education did not meet the election requirements.

On Wednesday, a petition signed by 120 lawmakers from eight political parties was submitted to the House leadership, beginning a parliamentary process that could have led to his impeachment.

Raka had offered to resign on Tuesday during a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, saying he wanted to avoid a prolonged political controversy. On Wednesday, he personally delivered his resignation letter to the president.

Prabowo addressed the nation on Thursday afternoon after meeting Raka and the parliamentary leadership at the presidential palace. Flanked by Raka, a grim-looking Prabowo said he accepted the resignation 'with a heavy heart' and praised the vice president for showing 'courage, responsibility and statesmanship' by stepping down.

Prabowo said Raka chose to resign for the greater interest of the nation, the state and the Indonesian people. He said many achievements, from the election campaign through the past two years of government, would not have been possible without Raka's contribution, highlighting his visits to 35 provinces and 149 regencies and cities to inspect 303 government projects.

Former President Joko Widodo told reporters from his hometown of Solo that political dynamics in public office are normal, adding that he had reminded his son that political positions are temporary. He said they would continue to support Prabowo's government.

Under the Indonesian Constitution, a vice presidential vacancy does not trigger a new election. The office remains vacant until the People's Consultative Assembly elects a replacement from two candidates nominated by the president within 60 days.

Parliament Speaker Ahmad Muzani said parliamentary leaders were due to convene immediately to begin the process of selecting a replacement. 'We ask for the prayers and support of all Indonesians so that this democratic process can proceed smoothly and serve as a constructive new precedent in our constitutional system,' he told reporters.

Before Prabowo chose him as his running mate for the 2024 election, Raka did not meet the age requirement of 40 for vice presidential candidates. But the Constitutional Court's contentious ruling in October 2023 carved out an exception allowing those who had served or been elected as regional leaders to run at a younger age.

Under Indonesian election law, a presidential or vice-presidential candidate must have completed senior high school or an equivalent qualification. Because Raka completed his secondary education overseas, he was required to provide documents showing equivalence to an Indonesian high school diploma; it was those documents that the court rulings questioned.

Raka is the first vice president of the country to resign before the end of a term since the fall of dictator Suharto and the start of Indonesia's democratic reforms in 1998.