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Indonesia's vice president resigns amid dispute over his high school credentials

Gibran Rakabuming Raka, son of ex-President Widodo, quit after two courts faulted his documents and 120 lawmakers filed a petition toward possible impeachment.

Gibran Rakabuming Raka in his official portrait in 2024
Gibran Rakabuming Raka in his official portrait in 2024. Photo: Darwis Triadi & Ministry of State Secretariat, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
9 news outlets reported this
Liberal4 outletsA resignation adding pressure on a government facing discontentCenter3 outletsCourt rulings, impeachment push and a fraying allianceConservative2 outletsThe resignation and how Gibran came to run
ABRAnews EditorialPublished 1 min read
Overview

Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned on Thursday, Nov. 12. He is 39 and the son of former President Joko Widodo. In Jakarta, he submitted his resignation at the parliament building to officials of the People's Consultative Assembly, the nation's top legislative institution.

The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court have both ruled that the documents he filed about his overseas education did not meet election requirements. On Wednesday, a petition filed by 120 lawmakers from eight parties launched a parliamentary procedure that could result in his impeachment. Gibran offered to resign on Tuesday when he met President Prabowo Subianto, explaining that he wanted to avoid a drawn-out political dispute.

A cabinet minister said Prabowo urged him then to defend himself. Al Jazeera reports that Prabowo said he accepted the resignation with a "heavy heart." A vacancy does not trigger a new election.

The assembly chooses a replacement from two candidates the president nominates, within 60 days. Widodo said political dynamics are normal and that his side will keep supporting Prabowo's government. The credentials case is apparently unrelated to the investigation into claims that senior police officials took part in wiretapping the president.

Key figures
  • 120 lawmakers from eight political partiessigned the impeachment petition filed WednesdayThe Seattle Times
  • within 60 daysdeadline for the assembly to elect a replacementAl Jazeera English
  • two candidatesnominated by the president for the assembly to choose fromAl Jazeera English

Three sides of the story

4Liberal3Center2Conservative

9 news outlets reported this

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Liberal4 outlets

A resignation adding pressure on a government facing discontent

Al Jazeera leads with the resignation "amid dispute over eligibility" and sets it against a government facing "widespread dissatisfaction" over the economy, corruption and wildfires. It reports that Prabowo accepted with a "heavy heart," quotes Widodo on political positions being temporary, and describes thousands of protesters in the streets. ABC News ran the AP report on Gibran's Tuesday offer to resign.

It quotes State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi saying Prabowo advised him to pursue legal avenues, and Gibran saying he does not want "a prolonged political controversy." The report places the offer amid a widening rift between Prabowo and Widodo and the wiretap probe. NPR frames its story the same way, pointing to the rift and a separate investigation into alleged wiretapping of the president by senior police officials.

The New York Times calls Gibran "a symbol of the partnership" that lifted Prabowo into office.

Center3 outlets

Court rulings, impeachment push and a fraying alliance

The Seattle Times ran the AP report that opens with the Thursday resignation "as questions grew" over his eligibility. It says he submitted it to the assembly leadership, that a cabinet minister said Prabowo had urged him to defend himself, and that the credentials case is apparently unrelated to the wiretapping probe. It also ran AP's earlier report on Tuesday's offer.

BBC News headlines "signs ruling alliance is fraying." It cites an aide, Budi Arie, saying the letter reached Prabowo on Wednesday, and quotes the Supreme Court finding "no evidence" of a foreign diploma. BBC adds background: Gibran joined the 2024 ticket after a court exempted him from the age minimum, Prabowo has reshuffled Widodo loyalists, and the chief of staff was arrested and sacked.

It also lists the wildfires, school meals funding and student protests.

Conservative2 outlets

The resignation and how Gibran came to run

The New York Post ran the AP report under a headline saying Gibran resigns "as his eligibility and academic credentials are questioned." It notes he did not comment on leaving the meeting and carries Widodo's remark that "political dynamics in public office" are normal. The report says the impeachment push was driven largely by long-running allegations that his candidacy was enabled by an October 2023 Constitutional Court ruling, which critics view as a conflict of interest and a sign of dynastic privilege.

The report labels him the first vice president since 1998 to quit before a term ends. Speaker Ahmad Muzani says leaders would convene immediately and hopes the process becomes "a constructive new precedent." The Washington Times carries the AP report on Gibran's Tuesday offer to resign during a meeting with Prabowo, according to officials.

What a side did not mention
  • Liberal outlets did not mentionA 2023 Constitutional Court ruling let Gibran run for vice president despite being under 40 Reported by BBC News, New York Post
All sources: 14 articles from 9 outlets

Liberal (7)

Center (4)

Conservative (3)

Related
  1. Indonesia's president fires chief of staff detained over alleged wiretapping
  2. Indonesia's vice president resigns amid dispute over his high school credentialsThis story