JAKARTA, The Kabar News—President Prabowo Subianto accepted Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s resignation letter at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, Nov. 12, opening a constitutional process to fill Indonesia’s second-highest office.

Gibran met Prabowo before personally submitting another copy of his resignation letter to the Peoples’ Representatives Assembly (MPR) at the parliamentary complex in Senayan. The two leaders later appeared together at a press conference at the palace. They embraced after the announcement.

Prabowo said he accepted the decision with a heavy heart and credited Gibran with contributing to the government’s work.

“I believe he will be able to get through this situation with fortitude, as he has shown a knightly and statesmanlike attitude,” Prabowo said during the joint press conference.

The meeting at the palace preceded Gibran’s arrival at the MPR building at about 11 a.m. There, he formally delivered his letter to MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani. Gibran did not issue a separate public explanation for his decision when he arrived at the parliamentary complex.

Muzani later read the letter to reporters.

“With respect, I, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2024–2029 term, hereby resign from the office of vice president of the Republic of Indonesia,” the letter said.

Gibran stated that he was leaving the office at his own request. However, Muzani said the document did not explain his reasons.

“No reason was written there,” Muzani said.

The MPR will hold a leadership meeting to decide the next procedural steps. Muzani said the assembly would follow the Constitution and applicable laws when determining when Gibran’s tenure formally ends. He said it would also determine how the vacancy should be filled.

Under Article 8 of the 1945 Constitution, the MPR must elect a new vice president from two candidates nominated by the president if the vice-presidential office becomes vacant.

The MPR must elect a new vice president within 60 days after formally declaring the vacancy. The president must submit two candidates after receiving the MPR’s formal request.

The submission of a resignation letter does not by itself allow the president to appoint a replacement. The MPR must first process the resignation and conduct the election prescribed by the Constitution.

Gibran’s departure follows growing political pressure linked to disputes over an education-equivalency document used during the 2024 election process.

A group of lawmakers had also initiated a parliamentary opinion-right proposal concerning his position. These developments formed the political backdrop to the resignation, but Gibran did not cite them in his letter.

The MPR’s next decisions will establish the effective date of the vacancy and set the succession process in motion. Until then, authorities must distinguish between Prabowo’s acceptance of Gibran’s decision and the formal constitutional termination of his tenure.