Yusril Has Read Gibran’s Resignation Letter: Just Five Paragraphs

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka had resigned of his own accord in a letter comprising just five paragraphs.

“I have read a copy of the letter. In essence, the Vice-President sent a letter to the MPR (People’s Consultative Assembly) saying that he was stepping down as Vice-President of his own accord,” Yusril said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday (12 November).

“The letter is very short, just five paragraphs, very brief, and its main point is as I have just described,” he added.

Yusril said he had read a copy of Gibran’s resignation letter, which was submitted to President Prabowo Subianto and the MPR.

In the letter addressed to the MPR, Gibran said he was stepping down as Vice-President of his own accord. He also asked the MPR to follow up on the letter with reference to Article 8, paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution.

The article stipulates that if the office of Vice-President becomes vacant, the MPR must convene within 60 days at the latest to elect a Vice-President from two candidates proposed by the President.

Asked about the reasons for the resignation, Yusril said Gibran had taken into account personal considerations as well as views expressed by the public.

“The reasons were personal, and also involved consideration of the views being expressed in society, which the Vice-President had carefully taken into account. These were reasons for resigning,” Yusril said.

Yusril did not provide further details about the personal reasons or the public views mentioned in the letter.

President Prabowo Subianto met senior leaders of the MPR and the House of Representatives (DPR), including members of the DPR’s Commission III, as well as several ministers at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday afternoon, several hours after Gibran resigned as Vice-President.

Yusril was among the ministers summoned by Prabowo to attend the meeting.

Earlier, Gibran submitted his resignation letter to MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani, witnessed by the MPR deputy speakers, at the DPR/MPR complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday afternoon.