Indonesian Vice-President Resigns Following Court Ruling on Educational Credentials

Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has submitted his resignation to President Prabowo Subianto following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated his secondary education credentials. An aide to the vice-president, Budi Arie, confirmed on Wednesday that the resignation letter was delivered directly to the president. The move follows growing momentum among lawmakers to initiate formal proceedings against the vice-president.

The legal challenge focused on an equivalency certificate Gibran presented during the 2024 presidential campaign after completing studies in Singapore and Australia. Indonesian electoral law mandates that candidates for the vice-presidency must have completed senior high school or an equivalent qualification. The Supreme Court established that no evidence was found to show Gibran had a foreign diploma or certificate that could serve as the basis for equivalency with a senior high school or equivalent qualification, affirming a prior ruling by the Constitutional Court. State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said Gibran requested an opportunity on Tuesday to contest the legal findings and clarify his educational background. Following the court's decision, more than 100 members of parliament expressed support for an impeachment initiative.

Gibran became vice-president under an electoral arrangement between Prabowo and outgoing President Joko Widodo. Gibran secured eligibility for the 2024 campaign after the Constitutional Court granted an exemption from the statutory minimum candidacy age of 40. Relations between the current administration and Widodo's allies have weakened in recent months. Prabowo has prioritized funding for a nationwide free school meal program over Widodo's planned capital city development in Nusantara, while also reassigning key officials associated with the previous administration, including former Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

Political shifts within the administration coincided with the arrest last week of presidential chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo on suspicion of wiretapping the president. Listyo, a former national police chief considered an ally of Widodo, was dismissed by Prabowo the following day. Subsequently, three cabinet ministers resigned from the political party led by Widodo's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, explaining that they wished to focus entirely on their ministerial duties.

The political development occurs amid several domestic issues, including financing difficulties for the national meal initiative, recent severe wildfires, and stock market oversight concerns. University students conducted protests across multiple cities on Tuesday over corruption and environmental policy. President Prabowo has not yet formally responded to or accepted the resignation letter.

Written by Andreas Hofer andreas.hofer@alpineweekly.com