Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Resigns Amid Fight Over His Education Credentials

Indonesia's vice president, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, resigned on Thursday as questions mounted over whether he was eligible for the office after recent court rulings disputed his educational credentials. Raka, 39, the son of former President Joko Widodo, submitted his resignation to the leadership of the People's Consultative Assembly, the country's highest legislative body, at the parliament building in Jakarta. He did not comment as he left the meeting.

He is the first vice president in Indonesia to resign before the end of a term since the fall of dictator Suharto and the start of democratic reforms in 1998. Raka had offered to step down on Tuesday during a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, saying he wanted to avoid a prolonged political controversy, and he delivered his resignation letter to the president in person on Wednesday.

Prabowo addressed the nation on Thursday afternoon after meeting Raka and parliamentary leaders at the presidential palace. Looking grim and flanked by Raka, he said he accepted the resignation "with a heavy heart" and praised the vice president for showing "courage, responsibility and statesmanship." He cited Raka's visits to 35 provinces and 149 regencies and cities to inspect 303 government projects over the past two years, and said, "He chose to resign for the greater interest of the nation, the state and the Indonesian people."

The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled last month that the documents Raka submitted about his overseas education did not meet election requirements. Under Indonesian election law, a presidential or vice-presidential candidate must have completed senior high school or an equivalent. Because Raka finished secondary school abroad, he had to provide documents showing his qualifications were equivalent to an Indonesian diploma.

A petition submitted Wednesday to the House leadership by 120 lawmakers from eight political parties began a parliamentary process that could have ended in his impeachment. The push was driven largely by long-running allegations that his candidacy was enabled by a contentious Constitutional Court ruling in October 2023. Before Prabowo chose him as a running mate for the 2024 election, Raka did not meet the minimum age of 40. The court carved out an exception for people who had served or been elected as regional leaders. Critics see that ruling as a conflict of interest and as evidence of weak political accountability and dynastic privilege.

Widodo, speaking to reporters in his hometown of Solo, said there will always be political dynamics in public office and that he had reminded his son that political positions are temporary. He said the family would keep supporting Prabowo's government. The education inquiry apparently has no connection to separate investigations into allegations that top police officials were involved in wiretapping targeting the president.

Under the constitution, a vacancy in the vice presidency does not trigger a new election. The office stays empty until the People's Consultative Assembly elects a replacement from two candidates nominated by the president, a process that must be completed within 60 days. Speaker Ahmad Muzani said parliamentary leaders would convene immediately to begin it, and asked Indonesians for their support so that the process could serve as "a constructive new precedent in our constitutional system."