Gibran’s Resignation Does Not Require MPR Approval

JAKARTA — Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s resignation does not require approval from the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). Gibran has resigned from office of his own accord. Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the MPR need only follow up by addressing the constitutional consequences of the vice-presidential vacancy.

“The MPR does not need to be asked to approve or reject the resignation. What it needs to do is declare that a vacancy in the vice-presidential office has occurred and then proceed in accordance with the mechanisms set out in the Constitution,” Yusril said in a press release received by Republika on Thursday (12 November 2026).

Yusril said the constitutional mechanism refers to the Election Law’s requirements for vice-presidential candidates, as well as the Law on the MPR, DPR, DPD and DPRD (MD3 Law), which governs the MPR’s powers.

The mechanism for a vice-presidential vacancy is set out in Article 8(2) of the 1945 Constitution, Yusril said. It provides for the MPR, within 60 days, to choose one of two vice-presidential candidates nominated by the President. “Thus, once the vice-presidential office becomes vacant, the President has the authority to nominate two candidates to the MPR, which will choose between them at a session. This process must be completed within the 60-day deadline stipulated by the 1945 Constitution,” Yusril explained.

Why MPR approval is not required

Yusril said Gibran’s resignation was his own initiative to leave the vice-presidential office. In the resignation letter, Gibran clearly stated that he was stepping down from his position.

“With respect, I, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2024–2029 term, hereby declare that I am resigning from the office of Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia,” the letter, as quoted by Yusril, reads.

Yusril said the opening paragraph makes clear that Gibran resigned of his own accord, so there is no need for the MPR to accept or reject the decision or grant its approval.

“The resignation statement affirms his intention to leave office on his own initiative. It is unilateral and therefore does not require the MPR’s approval,” Yusril said.

Yusril added that in the second and fourth paragraphs of the letter, Gibran asked the MPR to follow up on his decision to resign in accordance with the mechanism in Article 8(2).

“That request should therefore be understood as a request to follow up on the constitutional consequences of the resignation, not as an application for the MPR to approve the decision to resign,” Yusril said.

Gibran reportedly met President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday (11 November 2026) to inform him that he was resigning as vice-president. On Thursday (12 November 2026), Gibran went to the MPR to submit his resignation letter in person. This came after the House of Representatives (DPR) began gathering support on Wednesday for a motion concerning Gibran’s political future as vice-president.