politics

Budi Arie said the letter was submitted directly to Prabowo on Wednesday

The ruling prompted more than 100 lawmakers to support a parliamentary initiative that could have paved the way for proceedings to impeach Gibran.

australia, indonesia, prabowo, joko widodo, supreme court, ruling, amid, president resigns

Key facts

  • The ruling prompted more than 100 lawmakers to support a parliamentary initiative that could have paved the way for proceedings to impeach Gibran.
  • Having studied in Singapore and Australia, Gibran had used an Indonesian equivalence certificate to demonstrate his educational credentials.
  • He was 36 at the time, below the minimum age requirement of 40 for candidacy.

The ruling prompted more than 100 lawmakers to support a parliamentary initiative that could have paved the way for proceedings to impeach Gibran.

Budi Arie said the letter was submitted directly to Prabowo on Wednesday.

Having studied in Singapore and Australia, Gibran had used an Indonesian equivalence certificate to demonstrate his educational credentials.

He was 36 at the time, below the minimum age requirement of 40 for candidacy.

He became eligible only after a controversial ruling by the Constitutional Court exempted him from that age requirement.

At the same time, a free school meals programme is struggling for funding.

Parts of Indonesia have recently battled the country's worst wildfires in a decade.

The national stock market faces crisis amid allegations of widespread market manipulation.

All of this is unfolding at a particularly turbulent period in Prabowo's presidency.

Dig deeper

Who is Gibran?

Gibran Rakabuming Raka is Indonesia’s vice president and the eldest son of former president Joko Widodo; he ran with Prabowo after a court ruling let him stand despite being under 40.

Who is Prabowo?

Prabowo Subianto is Indonesia’s president and Gibran’s running mate; the letter in this story was delivered to him.

Who is Budi Arie?

Budi Arie Setiadi is an Indonesian politician and former communications minister aligned with the Jokowi–Prabowo camp; he is the official who said the letter went straight to Prabowo.

What was the Constitutional Court age ruling?

Indonesia’s Constitutional Court issued a disputed decision that exempted Gibran from the usual minimum age of 40 for presidential or vice-presidential candidates, making his candidacy possible when he was 36.

Why does an impeachment push matter?

More than 100 lawmakers backed a parliamentary move that could open proceedings to remove Gibran, putting his vice presidency and the court’s eligibility ruling under political challenge.

What is the free school meals programme?

It is a flagship government scheme to provide free meals in schools, and it is under strain because funding is tight while the country also faces wildfires and a stock-market crisis.

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