Indonesia vice president Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned on Thursday as questions grew over his eligibility for the office after recent court rulings disputed his educational credentials.
Raka, the 39-year-old son of former President Joko Widodo, submitted his resignation to the leadership of the People’s Consultative Assembly, the country’s highest legislative body, at the parliament building in Jakarta. He did not comment as he left the meeting. The resignation of the Indonesia vice president brought a sudden end to a tenure that had been under challenge for months.
Raka had offered to resign on Tuesday during a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, saying he wanted to avoid a prolonged political controversy. A Cabinet minister said the president urged Raka at the time to defend himself, and it was not clear if he had accepted the resignation offer.
“This is my personal decision and has nothing to do with my diploma,” Raka said. “Once again, it has nothing to do with my diploma. All my educational documents are complete and have been submitted to the court.”
Court rulings on the Indonesia vice president’s education
The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled last month that the documents Raka submitted about his overseas education did not meet election requirements. Responding to a petition that sought to unseat him, the Constitutional Court ruled there was no convincing evidence that Raka possessed a diploma, certificate or degree from abroad that could show he ever finished high school.
The court said it could not annul the results of the 2024 election, in which Raka was elected, even though Indonesian law states that a high school certificate is a condition for running. Under Indonesian election law, a presidential or vice-presidential candidate must have completed senior high school or an equivalent level of education.
Raka completed his secondary education overseas, so he was required to provide documents showing that his qualifications were equivalent to an Indonesian high school diploma. He attended Orchid Park secondary school in Singapore and UTS Insearch in Australia, before earning a bachelor’s degree through the Management Development Institute of Singapore.
Critics of the Indonesia vice president have accused him of never receiving a high school diploma. The academic credentials investigation was apparently not related to investigations into allegations that top police officials had been involved in wiretapping targeting the president.
A petition from 120 lawmakers
A 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. Under Indonesian law, House leaders must establish a special committee to examine whether Raka violated the constitution by serving as vice president despite allegedly failing to meet election requirements.
If lawmakers determine there is sufficient basis for the accusation against the Indonesia vice president, the House must ask the Constitutional Court to rule on whether a constitutional violation has occurred. Raka left office after serving two years of his five-year term.
The departure of the Indonesia vice president added to pressure on a government that already faced public dissatisfaction over the economy, corruption and wildfires. The speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly told reporters that Raka had submitted his resignation to Prabowo and to parliament, and Prabowo accepted the resignation.
How the Indonesia vice president is replaced
Under Indonesia’s Constitution, a vice presidential vacancy does not trigger a new election. The office remains vacant until the People’s Consultative Assembly elects a replacement from two candidates nominated by the president within 60 days.
Before Prabowo chose the Indonesia vice president as his running mate for the 2024 election, Raka did not meet the age requirement of 40 for vice presidential candidates. Before registrations closed, the Constitutional Court created an exception to the age limit, allowing candidates under 40 who had held elected regional office to run. The ruling cleared the way for Raka, then 36, to join the presidential ticket.
The Indonesia vice president is the eldest son of Widodo, who was Prabowo’s immediate predecessor as president. His resignation ended a turbulent period in Indonesian politics that included claims the president’s phone was tapped and an uneasy political alliance under strain.