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Gibran submits resignation as Indonesia’s vice-president amid alliance tensions
Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has submitted his resignation to President Prabowo Subianto, according to an aide, but it is not clear whether Prabowo has accepted it. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that found no evidence that Gibran’s school credentials met the legal requirements for office, raising the prospect of impeachment proceedings and adding strain to the alliance behind Prabowo’s presidency.
More than 100 lawmakers backed a parliamentary initiative that could have led to impeachment proceedings. Gibran, who studied in Singapore and Australia, relied on an Indonesian equivalence certificate and has argued that his university studies showed he completed secondary school; he had asked for a chance to challenge the ruling. His 2024 candidacy followed a Constitutional Court decision allowing him to run at 36, below the usual minimum age of 40. The dispute unfolds amid tensions between Prabowo and Gibran’s father, former president Joko Widodo, as Prabowo shifts policy and personnel, while the government faces funding, environmental and market pressures.
In short
- Gibran says he has submitted his resignation to Prabowo.
- The Supreme Court found no evidence of qualifying school credentials.
- The dispute adds pressure to an already strained political alliance.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of Gibran’s resignation could argue that uncertainty over his qualifications and the prospect of impeachment risk distracting the government and weakening public confidence. Stepping aside could give institutions room to resolve the dispute and reduce strain within the governing alliance, while respecting the seriousness of the Supreme Court’s findings.
The case against
Opponents of resignation could argue that a disputed ruling should be addressed through a fair process that lets Gibran challenge the evidence, rather than prompting him to leave office before the matter is settled. They may also stress that he ran under a Constitutional Court decision and that resignation under political pressure could set a troubling precedent for resolving contested eligibility questions.
Explained simply
Indonesia’s president and vice-president are elected as a ticket, but the vice-president has a separate constitutional role and can be removed through impeachment. Prabowo Subianto became president in 2024, with Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of former president Joko Widodo, as his deputy.
Gibran’s eligibility became controversial because he was younger than the usual minimum age of 40. A Constitutional Court ruling allowed him to stand at 36, and his overseas studies and Indonesian certificate recognising his education have since been questioned.
The dispute has put pressure on the political alliance that brought Prabowo and Gibran to power. It also involves relations between Prabowo and Widodo, whose support helped shape the 2024 election.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Indonesia’s vice president resigns amid signs ruling alliance is fraying”.