Yusril: Vice-President Gibran’s Resignation Does Not Require MPR Approval

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s resignation does not require approval from the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR).

“Accordingly, the letter does not require MPR approval, but serves as the basis for the MPR to follow up on the constitutional consequences, namely a vacancy in the office of Vice-President,” Yusril said when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said Gibran’s resignation letter, addressed to the MPR, clearly stated his intention to leave office. Yusril said this was evident from the wording of the letter signed by Gibran. In its first paragraph, Gibran wrote: “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 of my own accord.”

Yusril said the statement affirmed Gibran’s intention to resign on his own initiative and was unilateral, meaning it did not require the MPR’s approval.

The minister added that in the fourth paragraph of his letter, Gibran wrote: “I further request that the People’s Consultative Assembly follow up on this statement in accordance with Article 8, paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution and the relevant laws and regulations.”

According to Yusril, this should be understood as a request to address the constitutional consequences of the resignation, not as a request for the MPR to approve the decision to resign.

“The MPR therefore does not need to be asked to approve or reject the resignation,” he said.

Yusril said the MPR should declare that a vacancy had occurred in the vice-presidency and then act in accordance with the mechanisms set out in the Constitution, the Election Law provisions on the requirements for vice-presidential candidates, and the law governing the MPR, the House of Representatives (DPR), the Regional Representative Council (DPD) and regional legislative councils (DPRD).

The relevant constitutional provision states: “In the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice-President, the People’s Consultative Assembly shall convene a session within no more than 60 days to elect a Vice-President from two candidates proposed by the President.”

Yusril said that once the vacancy occurred, the President would be authorised to propose two vice-presidential candidates for the MPR to elect at a session.

He said the process must be completed within the 60-day limit set by the 1945 Constitution.

The former state secretary stressed that the entire process must be grounded in the Constitution and conducted in accordance with the laws and regulations.

“This is important to ensure that any change in the conduct of state offices continues to take place in accordance with the rule of law and the applicable constitutional mechanisms,” Yusril said.