Indonesia’s Vice-President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, has reportedly submitted his resignation letter to President Prabowo Subianto following controversy over whether he met the educational requirements for the country’s second-highest political office.
An aide, Budi Arie, reportedly confirmed that Gibran submitted the letter on Wednesday. However, it remains unclear whether President Prabowo has accepted the resignation.
The development comes amid mounting controversy over a Supreme Court ruling which reportedly found insufficient evidence that Gibran had completed senior secondary education or obtained an equivalent qualification, as required under Indonesian electoral law.
Gibran, who pursued studies in Singapore and Australia, had relied on an Indonesian equivalence certificate to establish that he satisfied the educational requirements for the vice-presidential position.
However, the court reportedly questioned the documentary evidence supporting his claim, particularly the absence of a foreign diploma or certificate establishing an equivalent qualification.
The ruling triggered fresh demands for accountability, with more than 100 lawmakers reportedly supporting a parliamentary initiative that could have opened the door to impeachment proceedings.
Gibran had maintained that his university education demonstrated that he had completed the required level of secondary schooling. On Tuesday, he reportedly requested an opportunity to challenge the ruling and defend the validity of his academic credentials.
The controversy has also intensified political tensions surrounding his relationship with President Prabowo and his father, former President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi.
Prabowo and Jokowi formed a political alliance ahead of the 2024 presidential election, which resulted in Prabowo’s victory and Gibran’s emergence as vice-president at the age of 36.
His candidacy had earlier generated controversy following a court decision that created an exemption to the minimum age requirement of 40 for certain candidates.
Meanwhile, Prabowo’s administration continues to face criticism over funding challenges affecting its free school meals programme, environmental concerns, corruption allegations and public protests.
