Breaking News: Vice President Gibran Formally Submits Resignation

Detailed summary

If the vice presidency becomes vacant, the MPR must convene within 60 days to elect a successor from two candidates.

Jakarta. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka formally submitted his resignation letter to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Thursday, following weeks of mounting political pressure over a controversy surrounding his high school credentials.

Gibran arrived at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta shortly before noon and went directly to the office of MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani, where he was received by the assembly's entire leadership.

"During the meeting, Gibran explained the purpose of his visit to us as leaders of the People's Consultative Assembly, which was to submit his resignation letter as vice president of the Republic of Indonesia," Muzani told reporters at the parliamentary complex.

Muzani said the assembly would act on Gibran's request to expedite the resignation process.

"Gibran asked the People's Consultative Assembly to process the letter immediately, and today the assembly's leadership will hold a meeting to follow up on his resignation," Muzani said.

The meeting between Gibran and the MPR leadership lasted just 20 minutes.

Muzani said the assembly had 60 days to prepare the process of selecting a new vice president.

Under Indonesia's Constitution, if the vice presidency becomes vacant, the MPR must convene within 60 days to elect a successor from two candidates nominated by the president.

Gibran's decision to formally submit his resignation came two days after State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi revealed that the vice president had expressed his intention to step down during a private meeting with President Prabowo Subianto.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Jakarta Globe. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.