JAKARTA: Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned on Thursday amid a scandal over his academic qualifications, adding to a series of political upheavals in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
The 39-year-old son of former President Joko Widodo formally delivered his resignation letter to the People’s Consultative Assembly, or MPR, the country’s highest legislative body, setting in motion a process to elect a successor who will serve the remainder of the term ending in 2029.
“During the meeting, Gibran conveyed the reason he came to meet with the leadership of the People’s Consultative Assembly, which is to deliver a letter of resignation from his role as the vice president of Indonesia,” MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani told reporters.
MPR leaders will meet to prepare to convene a session to determine the next steps, which will involve the president nominating two candidates.
“Under our constitution, there are 60 days following the resignation to select a vice president to replace Gibran,” Muzani added.
Gibran resigned after the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled last month that his academic credentials, which he submitted for his vice presidential candidacy and is required under Indonesian law to run for office, did not meet election requirements.
He has faced calls to resign for weeks, including more than 120 lawmakers at the House of Representatives calling for his…
