Indonesia’s Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has resigned amid a dispute over his educational qualifications and mounting political pressure. The speaker of the country’s parliament told reporters on Thursday that Gibran had submitted his resignation letter to President Prabowo Subianto and to parliament.
Gibran is the eldest son of former president Joko Widodo, who led Indonesia before Prabowo. The 39-year-old has stepped down after serving only two years of his five-year term. Controversy over whether he could stay in office had grown after recent court rulings raised questions about his education documents.
Gibran offered to resign at a meeting with the president on Tuesday, saying he wanted to avoid a long political dispute. A cabinet member said Prabowo had advised him then to stand his ground, so it was not clear at the time whether the president had accepted the offer.
Under Indonesia’s constitution, there is no new election when the vice presidency falls vacant. The president proposes two candidates within 60 days, and the People’s Consultative Assembly chooses one of them as vice president. The post stays empty until then.
The vice president’s constitutional powers are limited. The role is mainly to represent the president at official events and to take over if the president cannot carry out his duties.
The dispute over Gibran’s qualifications began with the records of his studies abroad. Last month the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled that the documents he had submitted on his foreign education did not meet the requirements for standing in the election. His critics allege that he never obtained a higher secondary school certificate.
Lawmakers have also moved to begin impeachment proceedings against Gibran. On Wednesday, 120 lawmakers from eight political parties submitted a petition to the leaders of the lower house of parliament, starting a parliamentary process that could lead to his impeachment.
Under Indonesian law, the leaders of the lower house must form a special committee to examine whether Gibran violated the constitution by serving as vice president without the electoral qualifications the office requires. If lawmakers find enough grounds for the allegation, they must ask the Constitutional Court to rule on whether the constitution was breached.
Gibran’s resignation comes as discontent with the government is rising in Indonesia. In recent weeks thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest against economic hardship, corruption, authoritarian attitudes and various government measures.
The government has also been criticised over severe wildfires that have burned for months. Toxic smoke from the fires has made thousands of people ill, and protesters are angry at the government’s handling of the blazes.
Separately, allegations that senior police officers were involved in eavesdropping targeting the president are under investigation. The eavesdropping case is not thought to be linked to the inquiry into Gibran’s qualifications.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report