Prabowo Subianto Can Govern Alone While Indonesia Chooses a New Vice President

Indonesia’s vice-presidential office is temporarily vacant after Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned, but officials say President Prabowo Subianto can continue running the government on his own until a successor is chosen. The country’s People’s Consultative Assembly is due to meet on December 2 to elect a new vice president, confirm the result and hold the winner’s inauguration. Assembly chairman Ahmad Muzani said the date was agreed at a joint meeting attended by the assembly leadership, representatives of political-party factions and members of the Regional Representative Council. He said lawmakers want to fill the vacancy quickly, in line with an understanding reached by party factions in parliament. Under the rules described in the report, the assembly must elect a replacement within 60 days of Gibran’s resignation. Prabowo is required to submit two candidates within 14 days after receiving formal notice from the assembly. A 2014 law stipulates that nominees must come from parties or a coalition that supported the winning presidential ticket in the 2024 election. Coordinating minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said Prabowo has full authority to put forward the two names, after consulting governing-coalition partners. Yusril also said the empty post does not require another official to act as vice president. Prabowo can exercise executive authority even while travelling abroad, without transferring his powers to a three-person leadership arrangement. Ministers will continue handling their own portfolios, with some potentially accompanying the president and others remaining in Indonesia. According to Yusril, communications technology allows Prabowo to coordinate with ministers and issue instructions remotely, so government operations should not be disrupted. He added that Indonesia’s legal and administrative system does not give the vice president independent authority to make government decisions. Even when a vice president signs a document on the president’s behalf, Yusril said, the decision remains the president’s.