Indonesia's vice president resigns as his eligibility and academic credentials are questioned

Detailed summary

Indonesia’s vice president has resigned as questions grew over his eligibility for the office after recent court rulings disputed his educational credentials

Indonesia’s vice president has resigned as questions grew over his eligibility for the office after recent court rulings disputed his educational credentials

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia’s vice president resigned Thursday as questions grew over his eligibility for the office after recent court rulings disputed his educational credentials.

Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the 39-year-old son of former President Joko Widodo, submitted his resignation to the leadership of the People’s Consultative Assembly, the country’s highest legislative body, at the parliament building in the capital, Jakarta.

“There will always be political dynamics in public office, that’s normal,” his father, Widodo, told reporters from his hometown in Solo, adding that he had reminded his son that political positions are temporary.

“We will continue to support President Prabowo’s government, especially programs that serve the interests of the broader public,” he said.

The academic credentials investigation was apparently not related to investigations into allegations that top police officials had been involved in wiretapping targeting the president.

Under Indonesia’s Constitution, a vice presidential vacancy does not trigger a new election. The office remains vacant until the People’s Consultative Assembly elects a replacement from two candidates nominated by the president within 60 days.

The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled last month that the documents Raka submitted regarding his overseas education didn’t meet election requirements. A subsequent petition, submitted Wednesday to the House leadership by 120 lawmakers from eight political parties, began a parliamentary process that could have led to his impeachment.

The push for his impeachment was driven largely by long-running allegations that Gibran’s candidacy was enabled by a Constitutional Court ruling that critics see as a conflict of interest and evidence of weak political accountability and dynastic privilege.

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