Indonesia’s Gibran resigns as vice-president amid eligibility dispute
Gibran Rakabuming Raka submitted his resignation to parliament on 12 November after court rulings raised questions about his education credentials. Indonesia’s MPR has up to 60 days to choose a replacement.
Gibran Rakabuming Raka submitted his resignation as Indonesia’s vice-president to parliament on 12 November, according to bbc.com. President Prabowo Subianto accepted it, saying he did so “with a heavy heart,” BBC News reported.
The resignation followed court rulings and mounting questions about whether Gibran met the education requirement for office. The MPR, Indonesia’s People’s Consultative Assembly, will process the resignation and choose his successor.
- MPR speaker Ahmad Muzani said Gibran had handed in his letter earlier that day, ABC News reported.
- Prabowo accepted the resignation and expressed gratitude for Gibran’s work overseeing government programmes, ABC News reported.
- The MPR is to select a replacement from two candidates nominated by the president, with up to 60 days for the process, BBC News and Al Jazeera reported.
Why Gibran’s eligibility was disputed
The dispute centres on whether Gibran met the education requirement to serve as vice-president. The Economist, in an article republished by Hindustan Times, says Indonesia’s electoral law requires a secondary-school diploma or equivalent. It reports that on 30 October the Supreme Court ruled Gibran had entered university without completing high school. ABC News also reported that the Constitutional Court found no compelling evidence he held a high-school diploma, while the Supreme Court ruled an equivalency certificate he obtained was invalid.
BBC News reported that Gibran had argued his university education was sufficient proof that he completed senior high school. State Secretariat official Prasetyo Hadi said Gibran had asked on Tuesday for an opportunity to challenge the ruling and prove his credentials’ legitimacy, according to BBC News. Al Jazeera, in a report credited to AFP and AP, said Gibran had offered to resign during a Tuesday meeting with Prabowo, saying he wanted to avoid a prolonged political controversy.
What it means for Indonesia’s vice-presidential vacancy
The constitution does not trigger a new election when the vice-presidency becomes vacant, Al Jazeera reported. Instead, the MPR elects a replacement from two candidates nominated by the president within 60 days. ABC News reported that Muzani said processing Gibran’s resignation could take up to that long; the successor had not yet been selected in the reports published on 12 November.
The resignation comes amid reports of strain between Prabowo and former president Joko Widodo, Gibran’s father. BBC News described their political alliance as strained but said neither man had confirmed a rift. Widodo said he continued to support Prabowo’s government, according to Al Jazeera, and described political positions as temporary. The reports do not establish the extent or cause of any rift.
Read in depth: World
Montrealers gather at Place du Canada to honour veterans
About 100 people attended Montreal’s Nov. 11 ceremony, where military observances and wreaths honoured those who served and died, including four soldiers killed in Alberta.
SS United States begins slow sinking off Florida
The ocean liner’s controlled descent began off Destin on Nov. 11, but most of its hull remained above water at sunset as crews worked to create a Gulf reef.
What this story rests on
4 sources from 4 organisations: 1 news agency, 2 broadcasters, 1 newspaper or magazine.
- 1Gibran Rakabuming Raka: Indonesia's vice president resigns amid signs ruling alliance is frayingBBC News Indonesia · bbc.co.ukBroadcaster
- 2Absence of high school diploma brings down Indonesia's vice-presidentABC News Australia · abc.net.auBroadcaster
- 3Indonesia vice president resigns amid dispute over eligibilityAl Jazeera (report credited to AFP and AP) · aljazeera.comNews agency
- 4Indonesia’s vice-president resigns, escalating a destabilising feudThe Economist, republished by Hindustan Times · hindustantimes.comNewspaper or magazine
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.
Researched and drafted with AI tools from these sources, then checked against them paragraph by paragraph before publication. How we work · Everyone we cite · Report an error