Gibran resigns as Indonesia vice-president amid diploma scandal
SCMP · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Indonesia’s Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka submitted his resignation on Thursday to the upper house of parliament and separately to President Prabowo Subianto, as controversy over his academic credentials intensified. Local media, cited by Xinhua, also reported his resignation to parliament after questions over his academic record and the recent invalidation of the foreign education equivalency certificate he used when running for office. The resignation came after Indonesia’s Constitutional Court and Supreme Court ruled last month that documents tied to his overseas education did not meet election requirements, while a new parliamentary petition had begun a process that could have led to impeachment. Under the constitution, the vice-presidential post will not be filled by a new election; instead, the People’s Consultative Assembly must elect a successor from two candidates nominated by the president within 60 days.
Key Points
- Ahmad Muzani, speaker of the upper house, said Gibran had submitted resignation letters both to the chamber and to President Prabowo Subianto
- Indonesia’s constitution says a vice-presidential vacancy does not trigger a fresh election, but requires the People’s Consultative Assembly to choose a replacement within 60 days.
- The Constitutional Court and Supreme Court ruled last month that Gibran’s overseas education documents did not satisfy election requirements
- Xinhua said the Supreme Court recently invalidated the foreign education equivalency certificate Gibran used when he ran for office
- A petition filed on Wednesday by 120 lawmakers from eight political parties began a parliamentary process that could have led to impeachment
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers and investors, the immediate issue is political continuity in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, where leadership uncertainty can affect market sentiment and regional business confidence. The dispute also adds pressure on President Prabowo’s administration at a time when its financial plans and economic management are already under closer scrutiny