Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned Thursday amid mounting questions about his eligibility for the post following court rulings that challenged his educational credentials.
The 39-year-old son of former President Joko Widodo submitted his resignation to the leadership of the People's Consultative Assembly, the country's highest legislative body, at the parliament building in Jakarta.
Raka made no comment as he left the meeting.
The investigation into his academic qualifications appeared to be unrelated to probes into allegations that senior police officials were involved in wiretapping targeting the president.
Under Indonesia's Constitution, a vacancy in the vice presidency does not require a new election. The post remains vacant until the People's Consultative Assembly elects a successor from two candidates nominated by the president within 60 days.
Raka had offered to step down on Tuesday during a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, saying he wanted to prevent a prolonged political controversy. However, a Cabinet minister said the president had urged him to defend himself, leaving it unclear whether Prabowo had accepted the offer.
Last month, the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled that documents Raka submitted concerning his overseas education did not meet election requirements. On Wednesday, 120 lawmakers from eight political parties submitted a petition to the House leadership, setting in motion a parliamentary process that could have resulted in his impeachment.
The impeachment campaign was largely fuelled by longstanding allegations that Raka's candidacy had been made possible by a Constitutional Court ruling that critics consider a conflict of interest and an example of weak political accountability and dynastic privilege.
Before Prabowo selected him as his running mate for the 2024 election, Raka did not meet the minimum age requirement of 40 for vice presidential candidates. However, a controversial court ruling in October 2023 created an exception, allowing individuals who had served or been elected as regional leaders to contest elections at a younger age.
Indonesian election law requires presidential and vice presidential candidates to have completed senior high school or an equivalent level of education. As Raka completed his secondary education abroad, he was required to submit documents proving that his qualifications were equivalent to an Indonesian high school diploma.
Parliamentary leaders would immediately convene to begin the process of selecting a replacement, Speaker Ahmad Muzani said.
"We ask for the prayers and support of all Indonesians so that this democratic process can proceed smoothly and serve as a constructive new precedent in our constitutional system," Muzani told reporters.