Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigns over education eligibility dispute

Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has resigned following court rulings that questioned his educational credentials. President Prabowo Subianto accepted the resignation, praising Raka's statesmanship, while the constitution allows 60 days for the assembly to elect a replacement.

Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned yesterday amid growing questions over his eligibility for the office after court rulings disputed his educational credentials. Raka, the son of former president Joko Widodo, submitted his resignation to the leadership of the People's Consultative Assembly.

President Prabowo Subianto accepted the resignation “with a heavy heart” and praised the vice president for showing “courage, responsibility and statesmanship” by stepping down. “He chose to resign for the greater interest of the nation, the state and the Indonesian people,” Prabowo said in a national address.

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

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

The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court last month ruled that documents Raka submitted regarding his overseas education did not meet election requirements. A subsequent petition submitted on Wednesday to the House leadership by 120 lawmakers from eight political parties began a parliamentary process that could have led to his impeachment.

The push for impeachment was driven largely by allegations that Raka's candidacy was enabled by an Indonesian Constitutional Court ruling that critics see as a conflict of interest and evidence of weak political accountability and dynastic privilege. 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 court's October 2023 ruling carved an exception for those who served or had been elected as regional leaders.

Former president Joko Widodo said there would “always be political dynamics in public office” and that he had reminded his son that political positions are temporary. “We will continue to support President Prabowo's government, especially programs that serve the interests of the broader public,” he added.