Indonesia’s upper house of parliament will select a new vice president on December 2. The speaker of the assembly announced the date on Friday, following the dramatic resignation of Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Gibran served as the president’s deputy and is the son of the former head of state. He stepped down this week after a month of growing political pressure from lawmakers. His departure followed a ruling by Indonesia’s top courts stating that he held inadequate education credentials for the office.
Ahmad Muzani, the speaker of the upper house, stated that the legislative body is legally tasked with appointing the replacement. The house will send a formal letter to President Prabowo Subianto requesting two candidates for the post.
Lawmakers have also established a team of 36 members to verify the credentials of any proposed candidates. It is unclear which individuals President Prabowo will nominate for the position.
Speaking on Thursday, Gibran maintained that his exit was a personal choice. He insisted the decision had no connection to the controversy surrounding his academic qualifications.
Gibran, aged 39, won election alongside Prabowo during the 2024 ballot. Detractors previously accused his father, former president Joko Widodo, of interfering in the electoral process by influencing a court ruling to alter rules and allow Gibran’s candidacy.
Political analysts warn that the resignation may trigger political instability. Observers suggest the move could drive a wedge between President Prabowo and his predecessor, commonly known as Jokowi.
Jokowi previously defeated Prabowo in the presidential elections of 2014 and 2019. During his second term, Jokowi appointed Prabowo as defence minister and later backed his successful 2024 presidential campaign.
Despite the tensions, both Jokowi and Gibran adopted a conciliatory approach on Thursday. They publicly stated they would maintain their support for Prabowo moving forward.
In a video address broadcast by Kompas TV, Gibran told volunteers he would not join the opposition despite leaving the administration. "I only have one message: Please, inside or outside government, we still have to support the president," he said.
Friction between the current and former administrations emerged last week when police revealed an investigation into alleged illegal wiretapping. The inquiry involves four senior police officials, including former police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who is viewed as a Jokowi loyalist.
Police announced on Thursday that they possess sufficient initial evidence to pursue treason charges against the four suspects. The allegations involve the illegal wiretapping of President Prabowo, along with other politicians, activists and journalists.
