Indonesia’s Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned on Thursday amid growing questions over whether he met the eligibility requirements for the office, following court rulings that challenged his academic credentials.
Raka, 39, the son of former President Joko Widodo, submitted his resignation to the leadership of the People’s Consultative Assembly at the parliament building in Jakarta. He did not comment as he left the meeting.
The resignation follows rulings by Indonesia’s Constitutional Court and Supreme Court last month that the documents Raka submitted regarding his overseas education did not meet election requirements.
Raka had offered to resign during a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday, saying he wanted to avoid a prolonged political controversy. However, a Cabinet minister said the president had urged him to defend himself, leaving it unclear whether the resignation offer had been accepted at the time.
The issue gained further momentum on Wednesday when 120 lawmakers from eight political parties submitted a petition to the House leadership, initiating a parliamentary process that could lead to Raka’s impeachment.
Under Indonesian law, House leaders must establish a special committee to examine whether Raka violated the Constitution by serving as vice president despite allegedly failing to meet election requirements. If lawmakers find sufficient grounds, the House must seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court on whether a constitutional violation occurred.
Indonesia’s Constitution does not require a fresh election if the vice-presidential office becomes vacant. Instead, the vacancy remains until the People’s Consultative Assembly elects a replacement from two candidates nominated by the president. The Assembly must do so within 60 days.
The academic credentials controversy was separate from investigations into allegations that senior police officials were involved in wiretapping targeting the president.
Source: Associated Press, via The New Indian Express
