Indonesia\u2019s vice president Gibran Raka resigned on Thursday in the midst of a scandal over his high school diploma, the head of parliament said, adding to pressure on a government facing widespread dissatisfaction over the economy, graft and wildfires.\n<\/p>\n
Raka, 39, submitted his resignation to President Prabowo Subianto and to parliament, the speaker of Indonesia\u2019s People\u2019s Consultative Assembly told reporters.\n<\/p>\n
There have been repeated calls for Raka\u2019s resignation following a Supreme Court ruling last month to annul his high school qualification.\n<\/p>\n
Speaker Ahmad Muzani said Raka met the leaders of parliament Thursday \u201cto submit his letter of resignation from his position as vice president of the Republic of Indonesia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raka told them he had submitted the same letter to Subianto.<\/p>\n
Indonesia\u2019s VP does not have many constitutionally defined powers apart from acting as the president\u2019s representative at official events and taking over if his boss is incapacitated.\n<\/p>\n
Raka\u2019s downfall comes as thousands have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest economic hardship, graft, perceived authoritarianism and the government\u2019s handling of months of devastating wildfires emitting a toxic haze that has made thousands ill.<\/p>\n
His exit is likely to complicate a loose governing alliance between Subianto and his predecessor Joko Widodo \u2014 Raka\u2019s father, who goes by the moniker Jokowi. <\/p>\n
The resignation \u201cmarks a significant political realignment, but does not necessarily threaten government stability,\u201d according to the Executive Director, Institute for Security and Strategic Studies think tank, Khairul Fahmi.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cJokowi will retain political influence, but Gibran\u2019s departure could reduce his network\u2019s direct access to power. For Prabowo, this creates greater room to consolidate his leadership and pursue his own political agenda,\u201d Fahmi told AFP.\n<\/p>\n