Indonesia’s Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned on Thursday, with President Prabowo Subianto accepting the decision as parliament considered a challenge over whether Gibran’s overseas education met legal requirements for the office.
The resignation ends Gibran’s tenure roughly two years after he took office alongside Prabowo following the 2024 presidential election.
Gibran, 39, is the eldest son of former President Joko Widodo.
Indonesia’s Constitutional Court said in an October 6 ruling that it had not found convincing evidence showing Gibran possessed a foreign diploma, certificate or degree that could establish completion of education equivalent to senior high school, as required under the Election Law.
However, the court dismissed the petition challenging his eligibility because the petitioners lacked legal standing and said it could not annul or disqualify Gibran from the vice presidency through that proceeding.
Gibran has maintained that his educational documents are complete and said his resignation was a personal decision rather than an admission that he lacked the required qualifications.
Pressure increased on Wednesday when 120 members of the House of Representatives from all eight parliamentary factions signed a proposal to exercise the House’s constitutional right to express an opinion over whether Gibran continued to meet the requirements for office, according to parliament.
That proposal had been scheduled for further consideration on Thursday.
Prabowo said he accepted Gibran’s resignation with a “heavy heart”, according to an official presidential statement, while praising his work in government.
Former President Widodo said political positions were temporary and pledged continued support for Prabowo’s administration.
The resignation now activates a succession mechanism set out in Article 8 of Indonesia’s Constitution.
Rather than holding a new national election, the People’s Consultative Assembly must convene within 60 days to elect a new vice president from two candidates nominated by Prabowo.
MPR guidance citing the law governing parliament adds that the president must submit the two nominees and their required documentation at least 14 days before the plenary session.
That timetable provides a defined constitutional route for filling the vacancy while the political dispute over Gibran’s qualifications effectively moves away from the impeachment process that lawmakers had begun considering.