Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly will choose a new vice president on 2 December, its speaker, Ahmad Muzani, said on Friday, a day after Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned. By law the Assembly appoints the vice president. It will write to President Prabowo Subianto asking him to submit two names, so the president in effect nominates the candidates. The House has formed a 36-member team to verify their credentials. The reports did not say which names Prabowo will put forward.
Reactions to the resignation
Gibran said on Thursday the resignation was a personal decision unrelated to his education credentials. He called it not an easy decision, said it was made in the greater interest, and said he would support the president whether inside or outside government. Prabowo said he accepted it with a heavy heart and praised Gibran for acting for the good of the nation. Gibran and his father, former president Joko Widodo, both struck a conciliatory tone and said they would continue to support Prabowo.
The background
The resignation followed a month of growing pressure from lawmakers after the Supreme Court ruled that Gibran's education credentials were inadequate for the candidacy. Analysts believe it could fuel further political turbulence and deepen the rivalry between Prabowo and Joko Widodo, who beat Prabowo in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections, later made him defence minister and tacitly backed his 2024 run.
The vice president's office carries few constitutional powers. The main ones are representing the president at official events and taking over if the president is incapacitated. Separate reports on Friday said Prabowo will attend ASEAN talks amid pressure over haze, and that the government is considering keeping fuel subsidies despite rising spending.
