Indonesia’s Vice President resigns amid academic scandal

Gibran Raka, Indonesia’s vice-president, has submitted his resignation following court rulings that invalidated the high-school equivalency certificate he used during his 2024 election campaign.

The rulings prompted more than 100 lawmakers to support a parliamentary initiative that could pave the way for proceedings to impeach Gibran.

Gibran first expressed his intention to resign during a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday, according to The Jakarta Post.

An aide told the BBC that the vice-president tendered his resignation directly to Prabowo on Wednesday. It is unclear if it has been accepted.

Gibran studied in Singapore and Australia but relied on an Indonesian equivalency certificate to demonstrate that he met the educational requirements for the vice-presidency.

Indonesian law requires vice-presidential and presidential candidates to have completed senior secondary school or its equivalent.

However, the supreme court found no evidence to prove that Gibran had graduated.

“No evidence was found to show Gibran had a foreign diploma or certificate that could serve as the basis for equivalency with a senior high school or equivalent qualification,” the court said.

Gibran had previously argued that undertaking university education was sufficient proof that he had completed senior secondary school.

His resignation comes amid heightened political tensions following a wiretapping scandal that has exposed a widening rift between Prabowo and his predecessor, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Gibran’s father, whose support helped the president win the election two years ago.