Indonesia’s Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has formally submitted his resignation to the country’s upper house of parliament, deepening political uncertainty in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
Reuters reported on Thursday, November 12, that upper-house Speaker Ahmad Muzani confirmed Gibran had handed in his resignation letter to parliament. He had also submitted a separate letter to President Prabowo Subianto.
Parliamentary leaders are expected to meet to discuss the next steps, including the process of approving the resignation and selecting a replacement.
Gibran’s decision follows mounting pressure over his eligibility to hold office after court rulings questioned whether his educational qualifications met the requirements for the 2024 election.
The Supreme Court recently annulled his education equivalency certificate and instructed the Education Ministry to withdraw it. Gibran had relied on the certificate to meet the educational requirements for his vice-presidential candidacy.
The controversy also prompted approximately 120 lawmakers from eight political factions to sign a petition seeking his impeachment, arguing that he no longer met the constitutional requirements for the position.
Gibran, 39, is the son of former Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi. He was elected alongside Prabowo in 2024, following a controversial constitutional court ruling that changed the presidential and vice-presidential age requirements, allowing him to contest.
His resignation comes amid growing political tensions between Prabowo and Widodo, whose support was instrumental in securing the pair’s victory.
The developments have raised concerns about political stability and investor confidence as the government faces scrutiny over its economic management and flagship programmes.
Widodo has maintained that he continues to support Prabowo’s administration, particularly its programmes serving the public interest.
