Indonesia’s Vice President Gibran resigns amid political and legal turmoil

JAKARTA: Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has submitted his resignation to President Prabowo Subianto according to an aide raising uncertainty over the country's political leadership and the future of a key governing alliance.

JAKARTA: Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has submitted his resignation to President Prabowo Subianto according to an aide raising uncertainty over the country’s political leadership and the future of a key governing alliance.

Budi Arie Setiadi, an aide to Gibran told Reuters on Wednesday that the 39-year-old vice president had tendered his resignation to Prabowo earlier in the day. Two sources in Indonesia’s parliamentary upper house separately said Gibran was expected to submit his resignation letter to the chamber on Thursday morning.

The development follows growing scrutiny of Gibran’s educational qualifications after recent court rulings questioned whether his documents met the legal requirements for contesting the 2024 election.

Gibran, the eldest son of former president Joko Widodo used an education equivalency certificate to meet the eligibility criteria. However, the Supreme Court instructed the education ministry to withdraw the certificate after it was annulled while the Constitutional Court had also ruled that his educational documents did not satisfy election requirements.

The controversy intensified on Wednesday when around 120 lawmakers from different political groups submitted a petition seeking his impeachment. One of the lawmakers supporting the petition, Mardani Ali Sera argued that Gibran no longer fulfilled the constitutional requirements for the vice-presidential position.

Under the process outlined by senior law minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra the upper house must formally declare the position vacant after receiving the resignation letter. It would then ask the president to propose two candidates for the replacement followed by an election within 60 days.

Gibran’s resignation also comes amid reported tensions between Prabowo and his predecessor Widodo, whose political support helped Prabowo secure the presidency after previously competing against him.

The dispute has added to concerns surrounding the administration which is already facing criticism over major government programmes and economic policy. Investor confidence has also weakened amid questions about fiscal planning and Indonesia’s market outlook.

Political researcher Sana Jaffrey of the Australian National University said prolonged uncertainty at the highest levels of government could increase concerns about Indonesia’s political direction.

Neither Gibran’s office nor the president’s office immediately responded to requests for comment according to Reuters.