Yusril Explains the Difference Between Resignation and Impeachment in Gibran’s Case

JAKARTA — Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra has explained the difference between the mechanisms for removing a vice-president through impeachment and resignation. He said the distinction lies in the constitutional process and the state institutions involved in following it up.

According to Yusril, the House of Representatives (DPR) is directly involved in impeachment, while a vice-president’s resignation entails coordination primarily between the President and the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR).

“The DPR may not be involved very directly, except in impeachment. Impeachment does involve the DPR,” Yusril said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday (12 November 2026).

In the case of Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s resignation, the Vice-President has submitted a resignation letter to the President and the MPR. The next steps therefore fall within the MPR’s authority and the President’s obligation to fill the vacant vice-presidential post.

Yusril said the MPR would convene a meeting to declare the vice-presidential position vacant. The MPR leadership would then formally notify the President in writing.

After receiving the notification, the MPR would ask the President to propose two vice-presidential candidates for election at an MPR session. The procedure is set out in Article 8(2) of the 1945 Constitution, which requires the election to take place no later than 60 days after the vacancy occurs.

Yusril stressed that replacing a vice-president who resigns is different from the succession that followed President Soeharto’s departure in 1998. When Soeharto left office, Vice-President B.J. Habibie automatically succeeded him.

But when a vice-president resigns, no one automatically takes over the post. A replacement must be elected by the MPR.

He added that the successor would not be chosen in a direct public election and that the General Elections Commission (KPU) would not be involved. The election would be conducted entirely by the MPR.