Indonesia's Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has submitted his resignation, an aide told the BBC, in a move that could further strain the political alliance that helped propel President Prabowo Subianto to power.
Gibran's resignation letter was submitted directly to Prabowo on Wednesday, according to aide Budi Arie. It remains unclear whether the president has accepted it.
The resignation follows a Supreme Court ruling that a high-school document Gibran used during his 2024 election campaign was invalid. The court found no evidence to prove Gibran had graduated. Indonesian law requires vice-presidents to have completed senior secondary school or its equivalent. “No evidence was found to show Gibran had a foreign diploma or certificate that could serve as the basis for equivalency with a senior high school or equivalent qualification,” it said.
More than 100 lawmakers had supported a parliamentary initiative that could have led to impeachment proceedings. Gibran had argued that undertaking university education was sufficient proof of completing high school and had sought a chance to challenge the ruling.
The resignation comes at a turbulent period in Prabowo's presidency, with the free school meals programme struggling for funding, parts of Indonesia battling the worst wildfires in a decade, and the national stock market facing a crisis amid allegations of widespread manipulation. On Tuesday, students across the country staged protests over the government's handling of a range of issues, including the environmental crisis and corruption.
Gibran's ascension to Prabowo's ticket was part of an alliance between outgoing president Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, and his erstwhile bitter rival Prabowo. Gibran, Jokowi's son, was 36 at the time and only became eligible after a controversial Constitutional Court ruling exempted him from the minimum age requirement of 40.
Since taking office, Prabowo has shifted many Jokowi loyalists into new roles, including long-serving finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. Last week, authorities arrested presidential chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo on suspicions of wiretapping the president; Prabowo sacked him a day later. On Monday, three cabinet members resigned from the party led by Kaesang Pangarep, Jokowi's youngest son, citing their desire to focus on their government duties.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The resignation threatens the stability of the ruling political alliance between President Prabowo and former president Jokowi, which was key to Prabowo's 2024 victory.
- It highlights ongoing legal and constitutional questions about candidate qualifications, particularly following the age-exemption ruling that allowed Gibran to run in the first place.
- The political turmoil comes as Indonesia faces multiple crises including wildfires, a stock market scandal, and student protests, complicating Prabowo's ability to govern.
Background
Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of outgoing President Joko Widodo, became vice-president after Prabowo Subianto won the 2024 election. Their alliance was a political surprise: Jokowi and Prabowo had been bitter rivals in the 2014 and 2019 elections. Gibran's candidacy was made possible by a Constitutional Court ruling that exempted him from the 40-year minimum age requirement. He was 36. He had long faced controversy over whether his high school qualifications, obtained through an Indonesian equivalence certificate after studying in Singapore and Australia, met legal requirements to run for office.
Key Perspectives
Gibran Rakabuming Raka: argued that undertaking university education was sufficient proof he had completed senior high school; asked for a chance to challenge the Supreme Court ruling and prove the legitimacy of his education credentials.
Supreme Court: found no evidence to prove Gibran had a foreign diploma or certificate that could serve as the basis for equivalency with senior high school.
Aide Budi Arie: said Gibran's resignation letter was submitted directly to Prabowo on Wednesday; it remains unclear if it has been accepted.
Observers (many): pointed to the arrest and sacking of Listyo Sigit Prabowo, a long-time Jokowi ally, as a sign of a crumbling alliance between Prabowo and Jokowi.
What to Watch
- Whether President Prabowo accepts Gibran's resignation and, if so, who he nominates to replace him.
- Whether the parliamentary impeachment process continues or is dropped now that Gibran has resigned.
- Further signs of a rift between Prabowo and Jokowi, including personnel changes and shifts in policy priorities such as the Nusantara capital project.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedGibran submitted his resignation amid an education controversy.BBC News: “Indonesia's Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has submitted his resignation, an aide has told the BBC”
- SupportedThe resignation came after the Supreme Court ruled that a high-school document Gibran used in his 2024 campaign was invalid.BBC News: “It comes after Indonesia's Supreme Court ruled that a high-school document used during Gibran's 2024 election campaign was invalid.”
- SupportedMore than 100 lawmakers supported a parliamentary initiative that could have paved the way for impeachment proceedings against Gibran.BBC News: “The ruling prompted more than 100 lawmakers to support a parliamentary initiative that could have paved the way for proceedings to impeach Gibran.”
- SupportedAn aide told the BBC that Gibran had submitted his resignation.BBC News: “Indonesia's Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has submitted his resignation, an aide has told the BBC”
- SupportedBudi Arie said Gibran's resignation letter was submitted directly to Prabowo on Wednesday.BBC News: “The aide, Budi Arie, said Gibran's resignation letter was submitted directly to Prabowo on Wednesday.”
- SupportedIt remains unclear whether Prabowo has accepted the resignation.BBC News: “It remains unclear if it has been accepted.”
- SupportedThe Supreme Court found no evidence to prove Gibran had graduated from high school.BBC News: “the Supreme Court found no evidence to prove Gibran had graduated.”
- SupportedThe story quotes the court saying there was no evidence of a foreign diploma or certificate that could establish equivalency with a senior-high-school qualification.BBC News: “"No evidence was found to show Gibran had a foreign diploma or certificate that could serve as the basis for equivalency with a senior high school or equivalent qualification," it said.”
- SupportedIndonesian law requires vice-presidents to have completed senior secondary school or its equivalent.BBC News: “Indonesian law requires vice-presidents to have completed senior secondary school or its equivalent”
- SupportedGibran had argued that undertaking university education was sufficient proof that he had completed senior high school.BBC News: “Gibran previously argued that undertaking university education was sufficient proof that he had completed senior high school.”
- SupportedGibran sought a chance to challenge the ruling and prove his education credentials were legitimate.BBC News: “On Tuesday, he asked for the chance to challenge the ruling and be given the opportunity to prove the legitimacy of his education credentials, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said.”
- SupportedAuthorities arrested presidential chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo on suspicion of wiretapping the president, and Prabowo sacked him a day later.BBC News: “Last week, authorities arrested presidential chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo - no relation - on suspicions of wiretapping the president. Prabowo sacked Listyo a day later”