Different Reasons for Leaving the Vice Presidency: Hatta Resigned, Gibran Stepped Down

Hatta’s resignation on December 1, 1956, marks a significant note in the history of Indonesia’s governance as he is recorded as the first Vice President to resign since Indonesia's independence.

Diploma Controversy and Reasons for Resignation

Regarding Gibran, rumors about the resignation of the eldest son of the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), began circulating following the Supreme Court's rulings concerning his high school diploma.

The Constitutional Court stated it found no evidence of diplomas, certificates, or documents showing Gibran had completed his education abroad at the equivalent of high school.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court granted the cancellation of Gibran's high school diploma equivalency certificate necessary for his vice-presidential candidacy in the 2024 election.

In the Supreme Court ruling 742K/TUN/2026, it declared Gibran’s diploma equivalency letter invalid and void by law, ordering it to be destroyed.

On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the palace announced that Gibran had expressed his intention to resign from the Vice Presidency to President Prabowo Subianto.

"In that discussion, Vice President Gibran, together with President Prabowo Subianto, indicated his intention to resign in light of the dynamics surrounding the decisions from the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court," said Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi at a press conference at the palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (November 10, 2026).

On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, eight factions in the DPR proposed a motion for an opinion to dismiss Gibran from the Vice Presidency.

Then, on Thursday, November 12, 2026, Gibran submitted his resignation letter from the position of Vice President to the MPR.

MPR Chairman Ahmad Muzani stated that Gibran asked the MPR to process his resignation letter promptly.

"The leadership of the assembly will hold a leadership meeting of the MPR soon to follow up on this resignation. This way, the MPR can hold a joint meeting attended by MPR faction leaders and DPD groups to determine the next steps," Muzani stated at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Thursday.

Muzani also revealed the content of Gibran's letter, which reads:

"Respectfully,

Hereby I, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2024-2029 term, declare my resignation from the position of Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia at my own request.

This decision is made with full awareness for the interests of the nation and state as well as the smooth running of government; I believe the nation and the Indonesian people need to be safeguarded beyond my personal interests."

Dok. Sekretariat Presiden President Prabowo Subianto bidding farewell to the 14th Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka before his resignation to the MPR at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (November 12, 2026).

Muzani stated that Gibran did not mention his reasons for resigning from the Vice Presidency in the letter.

With the acceptance of this letter, Muzani indicated that the office of the Vice Presidency became vacant as of Thursday, November 12, 2026.

"Starting today, the position of Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia is vacant, and the MPR has 60 days at the latest to fill this Vice Presidential vacancy," Muzani stated.