Gibran Bids Farewell

Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s arrival at the MPR to submit his letter of resignation as Indonesia’s Vice-President further underscored his decision to stop pursuing his case amid the controversy surrounding alleged diploma documents. Gibran was welcomed by MPR chairman Ahmad Muzani at the DPR/MPR complex on Thursday afternoon (12 November).

The 20-minute meeting consisted of a cordial exchange and ended with Gibran handing over his resignation letter. After submitting it, he left the building alongside MPR leaders. Gibran said goodbye and embraced Muzani, MPR Deputy Speaker Eddy Baskoro, and DPR Commission VI Deputy Chairman Andre Rosiade. He then left the Senayan complex for the Vice-Presidential Palace in the Sabang area of Central Jakarta.

After Gibran’s departure, Muzani held a press conference about his brief meeting with the son of Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo. He said Gibran wanted the MPR to process his resignation letter promptly.

“With regard to the resignation letter, Mr Gibran asked the People’s Consultative Assembly to process it as soon as possible. Today, the Assembly’s leadership will hold a meeting to follow up on the resignation, so that the MPR can convene a joint session attended by the leaders of its factions and the Regional Representative Council group to decide on the next steps,” Ahmad Muzani said.

The event is a historic political moment in Indonesia. Gibran Rakabuming Raka is described as the first Indonesian Vice-President to resign from office in the post-Reformasi era.