Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Indonesia’s Vice President has resigned, ending days of speculation about his political future and adding to uncertainty around President Prabowo Subianto’s government as the country faces growing economic and political pressure.
Gibran, 39, submitted his resignation to parliament’s upper house on Thursday, November 12, and asked lawmakers to process his departure. His decision makes him Indonesia’s most high-profile political figure to resign since President Suharto stepped down in 1998.
The resignation also comes amid growing tensions between Prabowo and Gibran’s father, former President Joko Widodo, whose political alliance with the current leader has come under strain in recent months.
However, Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, moved to ease concerns over a possible split, declaring his continued support for Prabowo shortly after his son submitted the resignation.
“We will continue to support President Prabowo’s administration, especially programmes that serve the interests of the broader public,” Widodo told reporters outside his home in Solo, Central Java.
Gibran personally delivered his resignation letter to parliament in Jakarta, where he met with its leaders for about 20 minutes. Upper house speaker Ahmad Muzani said the vice president had asked lawmakers to begin processing his departure.
Reading from the letter, Muzani said Gibran had made the decision “through my own volition … for the interests of the government and nation”.
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Senior law minister said the resignation was based on personal reasons and referred to growing public sentiment. The five-paragraph letter, however, did not provide a detailed explanation for his decision.
Gibran’s departure follows mounting calls for his impeachment over questions about his educational qualifications and eligibility to contest the 2024 vice presidential election.
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The controversy centred on his overseas high school qualifications, which came under scrutiny after Indonesia’s Constitutional Court and Supreme Court issued rulings that found they fell short of the legal requirements for vice presidential candidates and had been wrongly accepted by election authorities.
His candidacy had also attracted controversy during the 2024 election, when his father was accused of influencing a court decision that changed the electoral rules and allowed him to run alongside Prabowo.
Gibran and Prabowo won the election, bringing Jokowi’s son into the country’s second-highest political office. However, the controversy surrounding his candidacy continued to fuel criticism and calls for his removal.
Parliament begins search for replacement
Gibran’s resignation now leaves parliament with the responsibility of completing the process to fill the vacant office.
Muzani said parliamentary leaders would meet to discuss the next steps. Under the procedure outlined by Yusril, the upper house must first hold a session to formally declare the vacancy before asking Prabowo to submit two candidates to replace Gibran.
Lawmakers will then hold an election within 60 days to select the next vice president.
The political uncertainty comes at a difficult time for Southeast Asia’s largest economy, with investors increasingly concerned about the government’s policy direction, fiscal plans and ability to deliver on its flagship programmes.
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The rupiah has weakened to a record low against the dollar, trading at around 18,255 per dollar on Thursday, down about 0.6%, as political uncertainty continues to weigh on market sentiment.
Concerns over a possible rift between Prabowo and Jokowi had raised questions about the stability of the political coalition supporting the government. Analysts had warned that a breakdown in the relationship could deepen uncertainty around the administration.
Widodo’s public endorsement of Prabowo following his son’s resignation could help contain those concerns, although the political implications of Gibran’s departure and the search for his replacement remain uncertain.
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Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.
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