Indonesia’s vice president quits as cracks deepen in ruling political alliance

JAKARTA: Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned on Thursday amid a scandal over his academic qualifications, adding to a series of political upheavals in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.

The 39-year-old son of former President Joko Widodo formally delivered his resignation letter to the People’s Consultative Assembly, or MPR, the country’s highest legislative body, setting in motion a process to elect a successor who will serve the remainder of the term ending in 2029.

“During the meeting, Gibran conveyed the reason he came to meet with the leadership of the People’s Consultative Assembly, which is to deliver a letter of resignation from his role as the vice president of Indonesia,” MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani told reporters.