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

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Mohammad Hatta are two former Vice Presidents of Indonesia who have resigned from their roles as the country's second-in-command.

Hatta officially stepped down on December 1, 1956, while Gibran submitted his resignation letter to the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

Both had different reasons for leaving their positions. What were those reasons? Here’s a summary from Kompas.com:

First Vice President, Youngest Vice President

Mohammad Hatta was the first Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, having been appointed during the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI) meeting in Jakarta on August 18, 1945.

During his tenure as Vice President, Hatta made significant contributions to the government.

His responsibilities encompassed not only state administration and economic development but also national political policy.

One of Hatta's responsibilities included signing several decrees that were crucial in both political and legal contexts.

These included the Vice President’s Decree No. X on October 16, 1945, and the Government Decree dated November 3, 1945.

Both decrees played a vital role in the development of Indonesia's government system, including the establishment of the Central National Committee of Indonesia (KNIP).

KNIP is considered a precursor to the establishment of Indonesia’s legislative body, the People’s Representative Council (DPR).

In addition to his role in government, Hatta is also known as one of the figures who formulated the principle of an independent and active foreign policy.

This principle continues to serve as the foundation for Indonesia's international relations today.

Wikipedia First Vice President of Indonesia Mohammad Hatta

Hatta served as Vice President for approximately 11 years, from August 18, 1945, until December 1, 1956.

On the other hand, Gibran is the youngest Vice President to have held the position. He was 37 years and 19 days old when inaugurated as the 14th Vice President of Indonesia on October 20, 2024.

In the 2024 presidential election, Gibran ran alongside Prabowo Subianto, supported by the Greater Indonesia Coalition (KIM).

KIM is made up of the Gerindra Party, Golkar Party, Democratic Party, PAN, PBB, PSI, Gelora Party, Garuda Party, and PRIMA Party.

The Prabowo-Gibran pair garnered 96,214,691 votes, or 58.6 percent of the valid national votes in the 2024 presidential election.

Gibran is known to be the eldest son of the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

Differences with Sukarno

Despite their significant roles in government, Hatta and Gibran had different reasons for their resignations.

For Mohammad Hatta, his rift with President Sukarno over governance was cited as a reason for his resignation.

Differences in views about governance and national policy direction were among the factors leading to the estrangement between the two figures.

This situation ultimately led Hatta to resign from his post as Vice President of Indonesia in 1956.

That year, Mohammad Hatta sent his resignation letter to the then-Chairman of the DPR, Sartono. However, the request was initially rejected by the DPR.

Here is the content of Mohammad Hatta's resignation letter submitted to the DPR:

"Merely! I respectfully inform you that now, after the People’s Representative Council, elected by the people, has begun its work and the constituante has been formed according to the people's choice, it is time for me to resign as Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia. Immediately after the constituante is inaugurated, I will officially resign from my position."

After his first request was not approved, Hatta sent a follow-up letter to the DPR on November 23, 1956.

In that letter, Hatta reiterated his decision to end his term as Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia effective December 1, 1956.

Dok. Kompas Ir. Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta

The DPR subsequently approved Hatta's resignation request during a session held on November 30, 1956.

Following this, President Sukarno issued Presidential Decision No. 13 of 1957 in response to the resignation.

This decision officially dismissed Mohammad Hatta with respect from his position as Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, effective December 1, 1956.

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).

Instagram Ketua MPR Ahmad Muzani @ahmadmuzani2 MPR Chair Ahmad Muzani and other MPR leaders receiving Gibran Rakabuming Raka's resignation letter from the Vice Presidency at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Thursday (November 12, 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.