Gibran officially resigns as Indonesia’s vice-president after degree scandal

Indonesia’s ⁠Vice-President Gibran ⁠Rakabuming Raka handed in ⁠his resignation to the upper house of parliament on Thursday in the midst of a scandal over his high school diploma.

Ahmad Muzani, speaker of the upper house, ‌said Gibran had also submitted a resignation letter to President Prabowo Subianto, and parliamentary leaders will now convene to discuss the next steps.

Under Indonesia’s constitution, a vice-presidential vacancy does not trigger a new election. The office remains vacant until the People’s Consultative Assembly, the country’s highest legislative body, elects a replacement from two candidates nominated by the president within 60 days.

The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled last month that the documents Gibran 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 lead to his impeachment.

Gibran was elected alongside Prabowo in a 2024 election. His father, former president Joko ⁠Widodo, was accused of meddling in the process by influencing a ‌court decision that changed the election rules, enabling Gibran to stand.

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Indonesia’s vice-president submits his resignation as protests continue

Gibran’s resignation came amid a ‌deepening rift between Prabowo and Widodo, which political analysts ⁠say ⁠could further destabilise a government beset by scandals surrounding some of its signature ‌political programmes and doubts over its ability to handle the economy.

Amid the mounting ‌political turmoil, ‌investor sentiment weakened in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy as ‌the government’s financial plans and broader policy direction came under ⁠heightened scrutiny, with downgrade risks for its stock market still lingering.

Widodo, ⁠also known as Jokowi, told reporters in front of his home in the city of Solo, Central ‌Java, that he ‌continued to support Prabowo.

“We will continue to support President Prabowo’s administration, especially programmes that serve the interests of the broader public,” he said.