JAKARTA, Nov 12 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka handed in his resignation to the upper house of parliament on Thursday after days of speculation about his political future.
Ahmad Muzani, speaker of the upper house, said Gibran had also submitted a resignation letter to President Prabowo Subianto, and parliamentary leaders will now convene to discuss the next steps.
Gibran was elected alongside Prabowo in a 2024 election. His father, former President Joko Widodo, was accused of meddling in the process by influencing a court decision that changed the election rules, enabling Gibran to stand.
Gibran’s resignation came amid a deepening rift between Prabowo and Widodo, which political analysts say could further destabilise a government beset by scandals surrounding some of its signature political programmes and doubts over its ability to handle the economy.
Amid the mounting political turmoil, investor sentiment weakened in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy as the government’s fiscal plans and broader policy direction came under heightened scrutiny, with downgrade risks for its stock market still lingering.
Widodo, also known as Jokowi, told reporters in front of his home in the city of Solo, Central Java, that he continued to support Prabowo.
“We will continue to support President Prabowo’s administration, especially programmes that serve the interests of the broader public,” Jokowi said.
(Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Writing by Gayatri Suroyo; Editing by David Stanway)
