Indonesian vice president quits over eligibility questions

Indonesia’s vice president yesterday resigned as questions grew over his eligibility for the office after court rulings disputed his educational credentials.

Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of former Indonesian president Joko Widodo, submitted his resignation to the leadership of the People’s Consultative Assembly.

“There will always be political dynamics in public office, that’s normal,” Widodo said, adding that he had reminded his son that political positions are temporary.

Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka arrives at the parliamentary building to meet the upper house in Jakarta yesterday.

Photo: Reuters

“We will continue to support [Indonesian] President Prabowo [Subianto]’s government, especially programs that serve the interests of the broader public,” he said.

Raka had offered to resign on Tuesday during a meeting with Prabowo, saying he wanted to avoid a prolonged political controversy. He personally delivered his resignation letter to the president on Wednesday.

Prabowo addressed the nation yesterday, saying that he accepted Raka’s resignation “with a heavy heart” and praised the vice president for showing “courage, responsibility and statesmanship” by stepping down.

“He chose to resign for the greater interest of the nation, the state and the Indonesian people,” Prabowo said. “He has been a great help to me, from our election campaign through the past two years of government. Many of our achievements would not have been possible without his contribution.”

Prabowo praised Raka’s dedication and hard work, highlighting his visits to 35 provinces, and 149 regencies and cities to inspect 303 government projects during the past two years as examples of his commitment to public service.

Under the Indonesian constitution, a vice presidential vacancy does not trigger a new election. The office remains vacant until the Assembly elects a replacement from two candidates nominated by the president within 60 days.

The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court last month ruled that the documents that Raka submitted regarding his overseas education did not meet election requirements.

A subsequent petition, submitted on Wednesday to the House leadership by 120 lawmakers from eight political parties, began a parliamentary process that could have led to his impeachment.

The push for his impeachment was driven largely by long-running allegations that Raka’s candidacy was enabled by an Indonesian Constitutional Court ruling that critics see as a conflict of interest and evidence of weak political accountability and dynastic privilege.

Before Prabowo chose him as his running mate for the 2024 election, Raka did not meet the age requirement of 40 for vice presidential candidates, but the court’s contentious ruling in October 2023 carved an exception allowing those who served or had been elected as regional leaders to run at a younger age.

Under Indonesian election law, a presidential or vice-presidential candidate must have completed senior high school or an equivalent level of education. Because Raka completed his secondary education overseas, he was required to provide documents showing that his qualifications were equivalent to an Indonesian high-school diploma.