Indonesian VP Resigns Amidst High School Credential Controversy

The Cliff News | 12 November 2026

Indonesia's Vice-President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, has submitted his resignation to parliament, initiating a process to select his successor amidst mounting political upheaval. The move follows a Supreme Court declaration that a high-school document presented during his 2024 election campaign was not valid.

The controversy surrounding Gibran's educational qualifications has intensified, leading to calls for his impeachment. His departure occurs against a backdrop of a strained political alliance between his father, former President Joko Widodo, and the current President, Prabowo Subianto. President Prabowo expressed his acceptance of the resignation with 'a heavy heart', acknowledging Gibran's 'chivalrous attitude' and 'strong sense of responsibility' for the nation's benefit.

Concerns Over Educational Validity

Gibran Rakabuming Raka has long faced scrutiny over whether his high school credentials met the legal requirements for public office. Having pursued his education in Singapore and Australia, he had relied on an Indonesian equivalence certificate to validate his educational background for the vice-presidential candidacy.

Indonesian law mandates that vice-presidents must have completed senior secondary education or its equivalent. However, the Supreme Court found no concrete evidence substantiating Gibran's graduation from a foreign institution that could be used as a basis for equivalence to Indonesian senior high school qualifications. This conclusion echoed an earlier ruling by the Constitutional Court in October.

Parliamentary Action and Legal Challenges

The Supreme Court's ruling galvanized over 100 lawmakers, who supported a parliamentary initiative that could have led to impeachment proceedings against Gibran. Prior to this, Gibran had argued that his university education should serve as sufficient proof of his senior high school completion. State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi confirmed that Gibran had requested an opportunity to contest the ruling and present evidence of his educational legitimacy.

Gibran's inclusion on Prabowo Subianto's ticket for the 2024 election was a pivotal element of an alliance forged between Prabowo and outgoing President Joko Widodo, his former political adversary. At 36, Gibran's eligibility for candidacy was made possible by a contentious Constitutional Court decision that waived the minimum age requirement of 40.

Shifting Political Alliances

In recent times, tensions between President Joko Widodo and President Prabowo Subianto have appeared to escalate. Since assuming the presidency, Prabowo has shown limited enthusiasm for pushing forward Joko Widodo's flagship project, the construction of the new capital city, Nusantara. Instead, significant state resources have been redirected towards his own 'free school meals' program.

Furthermore, a series of personnel reshuffles over the past year have seen many individuals loyal to Joko Widodo, including long-serving Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, moved to different positions. The political climate has been further unsettled by recent arrests of several senior officials, including presidential chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo, on wiretapping suspicions.

President Prabowo subsequently dismissed Listyo Sigit Prabowo the following day. This action was widely interpreted as a sign of a fraying alliance, given Listyo's established position as a former national police chief and a staunch ally of Joko Widodo. Allegiances within the government seem to be in flux, with three cabinet members from Prabowo's party recently resigning from the party led by Kaesang Pangarep, Joko Widodo's youngest son, citing a need to focus on their administrative duties.

Despite these apparent divisions, neither Joko Widodo nor Prabowo Subianto has officially confirmed a rift. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Joko Widodo reiterated his support for Prabowo's presidency.