Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka leaves the Parliament building after submitting his resignation letter in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, November 12, 2026.
Tatan Syuflana/AP
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Tatan Syuflana/AP
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s vice president resigned Thursday as questions grew about his eligibility for the job after recent court rulings challenged his credentials.
Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the 39-year-old son of former President Joko Widodo, submitted his resignation as head of the People’s Consultative Assembly, the country’s highest legislative body, to Parliament in the capital, Jakarta.
Raka made no comment as he left the meeting.
“There will always be political dynamics in public service, that’s normal,” his father, Widodo, told reporters from his hometown of Solo, adding that he reminded his son that political office was temporary.
“We will continue to support President Prabowo’s government, especially programs that serve the interests of the general public,” he said, referring to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
The investigation into academic credentials was apparently unrelated to investigations into allegations that senior police officials were involved in wiretapping targeting the president.
Prabowo accepts Raka’s resignation
Raka had offered to resign in a meeting with Prabowo on Tuesday, saying he wanted to avoid prolonged political controversy. He personally delivered his resignation letter to the president on Wednesday.
Prabowo addressed the nation on Thursday afternoon after holding a meeting with Raka and the parliamentary leadership at the presidential palace.
Flanked by Raka and senior parliamentarians, a somber-looking Prabowo said he accepted Raka’s resignation “with a heavy heart” and praised the vice president for showing “courage, responsibility and statesmanship” by resigning.
“He chose to resign in the best interests of the Indonesian nation, state and people,” Prabowo said in a televised statement. “He has been a great help to me, from our election campaign to the last 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 Raka’s visits to 35 provinces and 149 regencies and cities to inspect 303 government projects over the past two years as examples of his commitment to public service.
“I will continue to support him and pray that he and his family receive strength during what is undoubtedly a difficult time,” Prabowo said.
According to the Indonesian Constitution, a vice-presidential vacancy does not trigger new elections. The position remains vacant until the People’s Consultative Assembly elects a replacement from two candidates proposed by the president within 60 days.
Long-running allegations about candidacy lead to legal disputes
The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled last month that documents submitted by Raka regarding his studies abroad did not meet election requirements.
A subsequent petition, submitted Wednesday to House leadership by 120 lawmakers from eight political parties, launched a parliamentary process that could have led to his impeachment.
The push for his impeachment stems largely from long-standing allegations that Raka’s candidacy was made possible by a Constitutional Court ruling, which critics see as a conflict of interest and evidence of weak political accountability and dynastic privilege.
Before Prabowo selected him as his running mate for the 2024 elections, Raka did not meet the 40-year-old age requirement for running mates. But the court’s controversial ruling in October 2023 created an exception allowing those who served or were elected regional leaders to run at a younger age.
Under Indonesian election law, a presidential or vice-presidential candidate must have completed high school or an equivalent level of education. Since Raka completed his secondary education abroad, he had to provide documents proving that his qualifications were equivalent to an Indonesian secondary school diploma.
Raka was the country’s first vice president to resign before the end of his term since the fall of dictator Suharto and the start of democratic reforms in Indonesia in 1998.
Parliamentary leaders were expected to meet immediately to begin the process of selecting a replacement, Speaker Ahmad Muzani said.
“We ask for the prayers and support of all Indonesians so that this democratic process can proceed smoothly and set a new constructive precedent in our constitutional system,” Muzani told reporters.
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