Indonesia's Vice President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, resigned on Thursday after court rulings questioned whether he had been eligible for the office, The Hindu reported, citing AP. Gibran, 39, the eldest son of former President Joko Widodo, handed his resignation to the leadership of the People's Consultative Assembly, the country's highest legislative body, at the Parliament building in Jakarta. He did not comment as he left.
The rulings
Last month, the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled that the documents Gibran had submitted about his overseas education did not meet the requirements to stand for election. On Wednesday, 120 lawmakers from eight parties petitioned the House leadership, starting a parliamentary process that could have led to his impeachment.
Gibran had offered to resign on Tuesday in a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, saying he wanted to avoid a long political dispute. A Cabinet minister said the President had urged him then to defend himself.
What next
Under Indonesia's Constitution, a vacancy in the vice presidency does not trigger a new election. The office stays empty until the People's Consultative Assembly elects a replacement from two candidates nominated by the President, within 60 days. Parliamentary leaders will now meet to decide the next steps, Al Jazeera reported.
Why it matters
ABC News described a widening rift between President Prabowo and former President Joko Widodo, Gibran's father, and reported that the resignation could spell the end of the political alliance between them. The South China Morning Post quoted Gibran as saying he would keep supporting Prabowo's administration.