Jokowi’s son quits as Indonesia’s Vice President over a school certificate, hours after 120 MPs moved to impeach him
Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the 39-year-old son of former president Joko Widodo, has handed President Prabowo Subianto his resignation as Indonesia's Vice President, after the Supreme Court ruled the high-school certificate he used to run for office was invalid. The resignation came hours after 120 MPs from every party in parliament lodged the first formal step towards impeaching him. The national assembly must now pick a replacement from two names Prabowo puts forward.
Updates
- 1.10pm AWSTLatest
No formal government statement yet on whether the resignation has been accepted or when it takes effect. MPR chair Ahmad Muzani has said he had not seen a resignation letter.
- Late Wednesday, Jakarta time
Projo chairman Budi Arie Setiadi confirms Gibran has submitted his resignation letter to Prabowo. People familiar with the matter say Prabowo has accepted it.
- Wednesday, Jakarta time
120 MPs from all eight parliamentary parties lodge a motion of opinion against Gibran, the first formal step towards impeachment.
Three things to know
- The head of Projo, the volunteer group founded to back Joko Widodo, confirmed on the record that Gibran submitted his resignation letter to Prabowo at a meeting late on Wednesday 11 November.
- The vacancy is filled by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), not voters: it must choose from two candidates nominated by Prabowo, within 60 days. The term runs to 2029.
- It is the clearest sign yet of a split between Prabowo and Jokowi, whose backing helped Prabowo win the 2024 election with 58.8 per cent of the vote.
Indonesia’s Vice President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, has resigned barely two years into the job, brought down by a school document.
Projo chairman Budi Arie Setiadi confirmed on Wednesday that Gibran had handed his resignation letter to President Prabowo Subianto at a meeting at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta. People familiar with the matter have said Prabowo accepted it, but as of Thursday afternoon there had been no formal government announcement, and it was not clear when the resignation takes effect or whether the MPR had been formally told. MPR chair Ahmad Muzani has said he had not seen a resignation letter.
A day earlier, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said Gibran had raised resigning during a meeting of more than two hours with Prabowo, and that the President had not rejected the idea.
How does a school certificate end a vice presidency?
Gibran, Jokowi’s eldest son and a former mayor of Surakarta, was 36 when he became Prabowo’s running mate. The law set a minimum age of 40, but in October 2023 the Constitutional Court ruled 5-4 that younger candidates could run if they had been elected to regional office. The court was then led by Jokowi’s brother-in-law, Anwar Usman, who was later removed as chief justice for failing to step aside.
The certificate case began with a lawyer, Subhan Palal, who challenged the high-school equivalency document Gibran lodged with the electoral commission. He lost in lower courts, but on 30 October the Supreme Court accepted his appeal and declared the certificate invalid. Weeks earlier, on 6 October, the Constitutional Court had thrown out a separate petition for lack of standing, while saying it had not found convincing evidence of a qualifying diploma. Protests calling for his removal followed.
Gibran had said he would keep fighting through the courts. Coordinating Law Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Tuesday the rulings were final and left no legal avenue open.
Why did it happen now?
On Wednesday, 120 MPs from all eight parties in parliament, including 11 from Prabowo’s own Gerindra, lodged a “motion of opinion” against Gibran, the first formal step towards impeachment. It was due to go to a plenary session on Thursday. Whether MPs now press on with it is unclear.
What does it mean for Prabowo and Jokowi?
Analysts read the resignation as part of a widening rift between the President and the man whose endorsement helped elect him, with several Jokowi allies removed from key posts. One senior Asia analyst said coalition heavyweights were likely to scramble for influence over the choice of successor.
It lands on a fragile economy. The rupiah has lost about 8 per cent against the US dollar this year, the worst performance of any Asian currency, and index provider MSCI has warned Indonesia could be cut from emerging-market status unless investability concerns are fixed.
Why does it matter to Australia?
Indonesia is Australia’s nearest large neighbour, a nation of more than 280 million people and a partner in defence, trade and regional security. The vice president is one heartbeat from the presidency, and the fight over who fills the post will test how stable Prabowo’s coalition really is.
VNN will update this story as more is confirmed.
How we got here
The key moments that brought this story into focus. Open any moment for detail.
16 October 2023Court opens the door
The Constitutional Court rules 5-4 that candidates under 40 can run if they have held elected regional office.
February 2024Election win
Prabowo and Gibran win the presidential election with 58.8 per cent of the vote.
October 2024Sworn in
Gibran becomes Indonesia's youngest vice president.
6 October 2026Petition dismissed
The Constitutional Court rejects a petition against his candidacy for lack of standing, but finds no convincing evidence of a qualifying diploma.
30 October 2026Certificate invalid
The Supreme Court declares Gibran's high-school equivalency certificate invalid.
10 November 2026Talk of resigning
Gibran raises resigning in a meeting with Prabowo.
11 November 2026Impeachment step and resignation
120 MPs lodge a motion against him; hours later he hands Prabowo his resignation letter.
What happens next
Under Indonesia's constitution, the MPR must meet within 60 days of the vacancy to elect a new vice president from two candidates nominated by Prabowo. Coordinating Law Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra has said a voluntary resignation needs a formal written statement to the MPR, which then establishes the vacancy. Watch for the formal letter reaching the MPR, the names Prabowo puts forward, and whether parliament drops or continues the impeachment motion.
Sources
- VNN
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