Gibran is the son of former Indonesian President Joko Widodo. He contested for the vice president post in the presidential election held in 2024. Under Indonesian law, a person contesting for the vice president post must have completed high school or an equivalent education. Gibran, who studied in Singapore and Australia, had submitted an Indonesian certificate equivalent to his high school education during the 2024 election nomination process. In the presidential election that followed, he ran alongside President Prabowo Subianto, won, and became vice president.
Meanwhile, the educational documents submitted by President Gibran came under scrutiny. A related case was also heard in the country’s Supreme Court. Gibran’s side argued that pursuing university studies was proof of having completed school education. The court, however, did not accept this and ruled that “there is no evidence that Gibran has a foreign certificate or equivalent document proving completion of higher secondary school education.”
The Constitutional Court had also expressed the same view earlier in October. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, he had requested that he be given an opportunity to prove his educational qualifications.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, members of parliament began the initial steps to bring forward an impeachment motion against Gibran. Around 120 members had prepared the proposal for this, and Deputy Speaker Saan Mustopa had said it was set to be submitted at the parliamentary session to be held on Thursday.
As a result of the political alliance formed between former President Joko Widodo and current President Prabowo, the 36-year-old Gibran was granted an age-limit exemption and became vice president. However, it is being said that differences of opinion between the two leaders have been increasing recently.
President Prabowo has not shown much interest in the construction work for the new capital, “Nusantara,” Jokowi’s dream project, and has instead been giving priority to his free school meals program. In addition, the portfolios of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani and others considered to be Jokowi’s supporters were reshuffled.
Last week, on suspicion of wiretapping the president’s phone, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, a close ally of Jokowi and the president’s chief secretary, was arrested and removed from office. Meanwhile, on Monday, three ministers from Prabowo’s cabinet resigned en masse from the party led by Jokowi’s younger son, Kaesang Pangarep. Amid all these political developments and pressures, an announcement was made that Gibran had resigned from his post.
This was confirmed by Budi Ari Setiadi, the head of the 'Projo' volunteer organization that worked in support of Gibran in the presidential election. Media reports say that Gibran personally handed over his resignation letter to President Prabowo Subianto during a meeting held on Wednesday at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta. However, there was no immediate information on whether President Prabowo accepted his resignation.
Amid political turmoil, Indonesia is facing a range of administrative and economic challenges. The government’s free school meal program has run into a funding shortfall. Students across the country took to the streets in protest against wildfire damage unseen in a decade, allegations of stock market irregularities, and corruption. In such a difficult situation, the vice president’s resignation has caused a major stir in Indonesian politics.
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