JAKARTA, Nov 11 — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto faces a potential power struggle within his governing coalition as Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka weighs resignation, threatening to unsettle political alliances and further weaken the influence of his father, former president Joko Widodo.
Analysts warn that Gibran’s departure could trigger a contest among coalition parties for the vice-presidency, leaving Prabowo with the difficult task of choosing a successor without alienating key allies, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.
Gibran, 39, expressed his intention to resign during a meeting with Prabowo yesterday, following court rulings that raised questions over whether his educational qualifications met the requirements for public office.
State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi confirmed the discussions but said no formal resignation letter had been submitted. He also stressed that Prabowo had not rejected the offer.
Indonesia’s government subsequently clarified that Gibran remained vice-president and continued to perform his official duties.
The controversy follows a Constitutional Court ruling that found insufficient evidence of Gibran’s secondary school qualifications but dismissed a challenge to his eligibility on procedural grounds.
The Supreme Court subsequently invalidated a certificate recognising his overseas education as equivalent to Indonesian secondary schooling.
About 50 lawmakers have also submitted a parliamentary motion that could pave the way for impeachment proceedings.
Gibran, however, appeared unwilling to concede defeat, telling reporters that Prabowo, whom he regarded as a father figure, had encouraged him to pursue further legal action.
Political commentator Lukas Luwarso suggested the resignation offer could be an attempt to test public sentiment rather than a genuine intention to leave office.
“He seemed to be testing the waters, which means he still wants to cling on to his vice-presidency and won’t give it up without a fight,” he told SCMP.
The uncertainty places Prabowo in a delicate position.
Under Indonesia’s constitution, a vice-presidential vacancy would require the president to nominate two candidates, with the People’s Consultative Assembly selecting a replacement within 60 days.
Rendy Pahrun Wadipalapa, a political scientist at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, warned that competing interests within Prabowo’s seven-party coalition could complicate the process.
“Parties inside the governing coalition would have reason to bid for the post, and elites who accepted Gibran’s place on the old ticket might now press their own claims,” he told SCMP.
Among those mentioned as possible successors are parliamentary Speaker Puan Maharani, daughter of former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, and Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Gibran’s predicament also represents a setback for Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, whose support helped Prabowo secure victory in the 2024 presidential election.
Gibran’s candidacy had already attracted controversy after a Constitutional Court ruling allowed him to contest despite being below the minimum age of 40. The court’s then chief justice, Gibran’s uncle, was subsequently found to have breached ethics rules.
Widodo’s political standing has since come under further pressure following the arrest of former police chief and political ally Listyo Sigit Prabowo over allegations of illegally wiretapping the president.
Yet removing Gibran could prove equally problematic for Prabowo, potentially opening fresh divisions within his coalition.
Marcus Mietzner, a political scientist at the Australian National University, questioned whether the president stood to gain from such an upheaval.
“So why get rid of him and trigger a tense contest among his coalition parties about the vacancy?”
