Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka told President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday he intends to step down, as parliament weighed an inquiry into his disputed education credentials.
The two met for about two and a half hours earlier in the day, and Prasetyo Hadi, the state secretary, said Gibran used the discussion to set out his intention.
The briefing was reported in two versions.
Two accounts of one briefing
Step down
Prasetyo Hadi, state secretary
- "During the discussion, the vice-president expressed his intention to step down in light of the ongoing developments"
- He said Prabowo had not rejected the intention and offered advice during the discussions
Resign
Prasetyo Hadi, presidential spokesperson
- "During the discussion, the vice-president expressed his intention to resign in light of the evolving situation"
- He denied reports that Prabowo rejected the request, but stopped short of saying the president had accepted it
Prasetyo Hadi denied reports that Prabowo rejected the request and said the president had offered advice instead. But neither account settled the question that matters most: whether Prabowo has accepted the offer to step down.
The rulings behind the offer
On 30 October, the Supreme Court declared Gibran's senior high school education equivalency certificate invalid. The ruling came after the Constitutional Court decided on 6 October that a petition challenging his eligibility to hold office was inadmissible, saying it had no power to disqualify him and that other institutions carried that responsibility.
- 6 OctoberPetition dismissed
The Constitutional Court rules a challenge to Gibran's eligibility inadmissible, saying it cannot disqualify him.
- 30 OctoberCertificate invalid
The Supreme Court declares his senior high school education equivalency certificate invalid.
- 10 NovemberTalks and a new session
Gibran tells Prabowo he intends to step down after about two and a half hours of talks; parliament reconvenes the same day.
Gibran said he had asked the State Administrative Court, known as the PTUN, to rule on whether his education documents were valid before anything else.
(Prabowo) offered a great deal of advice and input concerning the current situation. One of his suggestions was that I should continue to pursue my case at the Administrative Court by presenting all my academic records ...
I respect all the aspirations, criticisms, and suggestions from the public regarding the current situation. I do not want these developments to turn into a prolonged political controversy.
Parliament weighs an inquiry
Lawmakers reconvened on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Some are weighing a probe into whether incomplete education documents Gibran submitted as a candidate disqualify him as vice-president.
Puan Maharani, the House Speaker, said opinions on his eligibility had piled up over a one-month recess and that the next steps would be discussed.
Party factions have also sent parliamentary leaders their input on a possible use of the House's right to express an opinion on the credentials. Leaders are expected to review the matter under existing procedures.
An inquiry could be the first step towards Gibran's impeachment. The House is overwhelmingly controlled by Prabowo's coalition, and the inquiry talk is coming from inside it.
The rift with Jokowi widens
The offer came amid a growing political rift between Prabowo and Joko Widodo, Gibran's father and a popular former president who served two terms. Jokowi twice beat Prabowo, in 2014 and in 2019, before tacitly backing him as his successor.
Gibran, Jokowi's eldest son, helped Prabowo win the 2024 election by a huge margin. He became Indonesia's youngest vice-president after the February 2024 presidential election, and the two were sworn in on 20 October 2024.
At 39, he has kept a low profile in the job. He and Prabowo have appeared together only occasionally during their first two years in office.
Neither track has a date. Parliamentary leaders are due to review the factions' input under existing procedures, and no hearing is scheduled for Gibran's challenge at the PTUN.
What we know
- Gibran told Prabowo he intended to step down at a meeting that lasted about two and a half hours.
- Parliament reconvened on 10 November 2026, after a one-month recess.
Still unclear
- Whether Prabowo has accepted Gibran's intention to step down.
- Whether the House will launch an inquiry, and what its next procedural steps will be.
- What the State Administrative Court will decide on Gibran's educational documents.
