JAKARTA (AP) | November 11, 2026 | Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has submitted his resignation to President Prabowo Subianto amid mounting controversy over his academic credentials, while 120 lawmakers from eight political parties have launched a parliamentary initiative that could lead to his impeachment.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Raka, 39, submitted his resignation during a meeting with Prabowo on Tuesday, saying he wanted to prevent the dispute from prolonging political tensions. However, it remained unclear whether the president had accepted his resignation. Reuters separately reported, citing two political sources in parliament’s upper house and Raka’s political aide Budi Arie Setiadi, that the vice president had resigned.
Despite the reported resignation, lawmakers are continuing with the impeachment initiative, underscoring the political and constitutional implications of the controversy.
The move gained momentum after the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) announced that all its 110 lawmakers had agreed to invoke the House of Representatives’ constitutional right to express an opinion, a mechanism that can initiate impeachment proceedings. The motion was supported by a total of 120 legislators from eight political parties.
The controversy stems from court decisions concerning documents Raka submitted to establish that he had completed education equivalent to Indonesia’s senior high school requirement for presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Indonesia’s Constitutional Court ruled on October 6 that it found no convincing evidence demonstrating that Raka possessed a foreign diploma or certificate establishing completion of an equivalent secondary education. However, it dismissed the petition because the complainants lacked legal standing and said it could not annul his position after he had already been sworn into office. The court indicated that questions about his continued eligibility could fall under the authority of other institutions.
The dispute intensified after Indonesia’s Supreme Court overturned an earlier administrative court ruling and invalidated the education equivalency certificate used by Raka during his 2024 election registration, according to The Jakarta Post. Raka had attended school in Singapore and Australia before obtaining a bachelor’s degree through the Management Development Institute of Singapore.
Under Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution, a president or vice president may be removed from office if proven to have committed serious legal violations or no longer meets the constitutional qualifications for the position. However, impeachment is not automatic. The House of Representatives must first investigate the allegations and seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court. Any subsequent removal proposal must be submitted to the People’s Consultative Assembly, which makes the final decision.
The House has scheduled a plenary session for Thursday to discuss the proposed inquiry. A special committee would examine whether Raka violated constitutional requirements by remaining in office despite the questions surrounding his qualifications.
The controversy also revives concerns about political influence and the circumstances surrounding Raka’s entry into national politics. In October 2023, Indonesia’s Constitutional Court controversially changed the minimum age requirement for presidential and vice-presidential candidates, allowing individuals who had held elected regional office to run before reaching the general minimum age of 40.
The ruling enabled Raka, then 36 and serving as mayor of Surakarta, to become the running mate of Prabowo in the 2024 presidential election. The decision generated widespread criticism because the court was then led by his uncle, Chief Justice Anwar Usman, who was subsequently removed from his position as chief justice for violating judicial ethics over the case.
Raka is the eldest son of former President Joko Widodo, whose political influence has remained a subject of national debate following his departure from office in October 2024.
The latest developments come amid reports of growing political tensions between Prabowo and Widodo, adding another dimension to the controversy over the vice president’s future.
Whether Raka’s resignation will take effect now depends on the president’s response, while the parliamentary process could continue to determine the constitutional consequences of the disputed academic credentials.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
