Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka formally submitted his resignation to the country’s national assembly Thursday. This action sets in motion a constitutional process to elect a successor to serve out the term ending in 2029. The Upper House now has three days to officially approve the resignation and 60 days to select a replacement.
Raka, the son of former President Joko Widodo, is stepping down amid a scandal over his academic credentials. The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled last month that documents Raka submitted regarding his overseas education did not meet election requirements. Raka had filed a certificate stating his overseas education was equivalent to a vocational high school in Indonesia.
The resignation comes amid growing signs of strain in the political alliance between President Prabowo Subianto and former President Joko Widodo. Raka was a symbol of the partnership that elevated President Subianto into office. The ultimate target of Subianto’s shakeup at the top of Indonesian politics may be the man who helped propel him to power after leading the country for a decade: ex-President Joko Widodo.