Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka formally submitted his resignation to the national assembly, marking a symbolic end to the alliance forged between President Prabowo Subianto and his predecessor, Joko Widodo.
Gibran delivered his resignation letter to the People’s Consultative Assembly, or MPR, on Thursday, a day after Bloomberg News reported that he had informed Prabowo of his decision to step down.
The resignation removes one of the last visible links between the two political camps. Prabowo lost the 2014 and 2019 presidential contests to Jokowi, who then brought his former rival into government as defense minister. That role gave Prabowo a platform to travel abroad and bolster his profile ahead of the 2024 election, when Jokowi was no longer eligible to run.
Gibran then joined Prabowo’s ticket, helping him capitalize on the former president’s immense popularity and win in a landslide. Several Jokowi loyalists were also appointed to Prabowo’s cabinet, though many have since departed or been removed, including a Jokowi-appointed former police chief arrested last week on charges of wiretapping Prabowo. In many cases, they were replaced by figures more closely aligned with Prabowo.
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Gibran arrived at the MPR building in central Jakarta midmorning Thursday and met with assembly leaders for about 20 minutes behind closed doors. He departed without speaking to reporters.
“He didn’t say much,” MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani said. “He simply stated the purpose of his visit, which was to submit his letter of resignation.”
Muzani later read Gibran’s letter aloud to reporters. In it, Gibran said he made the decision to ensure the government continued to function smoothly, adding that “the people of Indonesia must be protected above my individual self.”
In the afternoon, Gibran met with staff and volunteers at the Vice Presidential Palace. Those gathered sang the national song “Bagimu Negeri” and chanted in support of Gibran, while several street vendors were invited in to provide food for attendees.
The MPR plans to meet Friday to discuss next steps, including sending a letter to Prabowo to request two nominees for the vice presidency. He will then have two weeks to respond, and the MPR must choose one by Jan. 10.
Gibran had faced growing calls from politicians for his impeachment over questions about his educational credentials. He had been accused of failing to prove that he met a high school-equivalent education requirement to run for vice president in the 2024 election, despite holding a university degree.
“Political positions will always involve political dynamics,” Jokowi told reporters Thursday in his hometown of Solo. “That’s common.” He said he had advised Gibran that “position is temporary.”
“We will continue to support President Prabowo’s administration, especially in programs that serve people’s interests,” he said.
–With assistance from Cecilia Yap.
Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Bloomberg news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.