Jakarta, Indonesia – Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the Vice-President of Indonesia, has tendered his resignation. Aide Budi Arie confirmed that the resignation letter was personally handed to President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. As of reporting, it remains uncertain whether President Subianto has formally accepted the resignation.
The resignation follows a decisive ruling by the Indonesian Supreme Court, which declared a crucial high-school equivalence certificate used by Gibran during the 2024 presidential election campaign to be invalid, as detailed by the BBC. The court's findings indicated a lack of verifiable proof that Gibran had obtained a foreign diploma or certificate legally recognised as a substitute for a senior high school qualification, a mandatory requirement under Indonesian law for any vice-presidential candidate.
Gibran, who undertook studies in Singapore and Australia, had relied upon a local equivalence document to satisfy the educational credential requirement. He had also previously argued that the completion of a university-level education should inherently serve as sufficient evidence of having finished senior secondary school. On Tuesday, through State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Gibran had requested an opportunity to challenge the court's decision and to provide further substantiation of his academic background.
According to The Economist, the Supreme Court's ruling also referenced an earlier decision made by the Constitutional Court in October, which had reached the same conclusion regarding the validity of his qualifications.
Mounting Political Pressure and Impeachment Threat
The Supreme Court's findings triggered immediate and significant political action. Over 100 lawmakers swiftly rallied behind a parliamentary initiative that could have paved the way for impeachment proceedings against Gibran. This escalating pressure is widely believed to have been a contributing factor to Gibran’s decision to step down before the impeachment process could advance further.
Unravelling Alliance: Gibran's Path to Vice-Presidency And Political Shift
Gibran's ascent to the vice-presidency was, in itself, steeped in political manoeuvring. His candidacy was only made possible by a contentious Constitutional Court decision that waived the minimum age requirement of 40, allowing him to run at the age of 36. This arrangement was part of a broader political alliance forged between his father, former President Joko Widodo, widely known as Jokowi, and Prabowo, who had historically been Jokowi's fierce political adversary.
Gibran's resignation now unfolds at a time when this intricate alliance appears to be fracturing. President Prabowo has demonstrated a marked lack of enthusiasm for continuing Jokowi's flagship project, the construction of Nusantara as Indonesia's new capital city. Instead, he has redirected substantial government resources towards his own free school meals programme. A series of recent cabinet reshuffles has also seen several prominent Jokowi loyalists removed from key government positions, including the long-serving Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
Last week, reports emerged of the arrest of presidential chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo, a close ally of Jokowi, on suspicion of wiretapping the President. Prabowo subsequently dismissed him the following day. Many political observers interpreted this sacking as a further indication of the deteriorating relationship between the two camps. On Monday, three cabinet ministers resigned from the party led by Kaesang Pangarep, Jokowi's youngest son, citing their desire to concentrate solely on their governmental duties.
National Challenges Amidst Political Upheaval
This period of significant political upheaval is occurring against a backdrop of considerable national challenges for Prabowo's administration. His signature free meals programme is currently grappling with a substantial funding shortfall. Parts of the country have been ravaged by some of the most severe wildfires in a decade, contributing to an ongoing environmental crisis. Furthermore, Indonesia's stock market is under considerable pressure amid allegations of widespread manipulation. On Tuesday, student demonstrations erupted across the country, protesting the government's handling of these pressing issues, including the environmental crisis and persistent allegations of corruption.
A short video report confirming Gibran Rakabuming Raka's resignation as Indonesia's Vice-President is available on X.
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