No Wapres, No Problem

GIBRAN Rakabuming Raka has resigned. On Thursday (12/11/2026), his resignation letter was accepted by the chairman of the MPR.

Since then, the position of Vice President has been declared vacant. President Prabowo Subianto faces an unusual situation: leading the government without a partner who supported his victory in the 2024 Presidential Election.

However, the republic continues to function.

The palace continues to govern. The ministers retain their authority.

Presidential decisions remain legally grounded. There is no constitutional provision that diminishes the President's power merely because the vice president has resigned.

This situation raises more fundamental questions than merely speculating who will replace Gibran.

If the government can continue to operate without a vice president, how important is that position really?

This question might sound simple. However, its answer touches on one of the most crucial issues in constitutional law: how to ensure that power persists when its holder can no longer fulfill their duties.

For, the ability to govern today does not necessarily equate to readiness for a change of power tomorrow.

Presidentialism

Article 4, paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution states that the President holds executive power according to the Constitution.

The following paragraph states that in fulfilling his duties, the President is assisted by one vice president.

This formulation reveals the character of Indonesia's presidentialism.

The President is not half of two holders of executive power.

The vice president is not a second president with equal governing authority.

The center of executive power lies with the President. The responsibility for the success or failure of government primarily rests on him.

Consequently, Gibran's resignation does not diminish Prabowo's authority.

The President can continue to lead the cabinet, set policies, conduct foreign relations, and exercise other powers granted by the constitution.

There is no requirement for every government action to obtain approval from the vice president.

Herein lies the constitutional basis for the phrase "No Wapres, No Problem."

Without a vice president, the government does not lose its executive power holder.

However, there's a difference between power that can still be exercised and power that has assured succession.

A President may lead robustly. However, a country should not depend on the strength of a single President for its continuity.

The Constitution is necessary precisely because power is executed by humans who are never completely free from limitations.

Paradox

The vacancy of a position does not always mean a vacancy of power.

When the vice president resigns, the position indeed has no holder. Yet, the government remains in the hands of the legitimate President.

In normal circumstances, this might not pose significant issues.

The problem is that the vice presidency is not only designed to assist the President in daily tasks.

Article 8, paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution places the vice president as the substitute for the President in the event of death, resignation, dismissal, or inability to fulfill his duties during the term.

Herein lies the paradox.

The President's authority remains intact in the absence of the vice president. However, the nation loses an official directly prepared by the constitution to replace him.

While the government may remain stable, the certainty of succession faces greater risks.

The strength of the President and the resilience of the constitutional system are not necessarily aligned.

A President may have broad political support, a solid cabinet, and the ability to control the government.

However, none of these automatically resolves who should take over power if circumstances change abruptly.

Thus, the significance of the vice president cannot be measured by how often he leads meetings or appears alongside the President.

There are positions where the most important functions are not visible when things run smoothly. The vice president is among them.