As political intrigue ruffles Indonesia’s elite, residents feel more shaken by soaring costs

A wiretapping scandal, arrests and a top-level resignation have buffeted the Southeast Asian nation this week, but daily struggles continue to top people's concerns.SURABAYA, Indonesia (CN) — On Friday, Indonesia’s top legislative body said the Southeast Asian nation and the world’s third-biggest democracy will have a new vice president by Dec. 4th, a day after Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned following controversy about his educational credentials.The political jockeying that led to his resignation took place against the backdrop of a wiretapping scandal that observers interpret as a rift between President Prabowo Subianto and former leader Joko Widodo, locally addressed as Jokowi — Gibran’s father.Gibran served for two years under Prabowo, an ousted former military general with a murky human rights record and the onetime son-in-law of the long-ruling authoritarian Suharto, who was forced out of leadership by nationwide protests during the 1998 Asian financial crisis.Two court rulings, the latest from Indonesia’s Supreme Court in late October, found Gibran’s overseas high school diploma did not sufficiently prove he graduated by local standards, making him legally ineligible for the role.The Constitutional Court had reached the same conclusion weeks earlier, though it declined to disqualify Gibran. One hundred and twenty members of the People’s Consultative Assembly sought to raise an impeachment case against him.The resignation comes after numerous protests against Prabowo’s ambitious free meals program, which has increased Indonesia’s budget as citizens struggle with rising living costs.People have taken to the streets in protest over concerns about human rights and policies accelerating the economic downturn ignited by U.S. President Donald Trump’s war in Iran, which increased fuel prices.Speaking to Courthouse News on Friday, residents in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, seemed to care little for Gibran. Some have labeled him a “nepo baby” since he rose to power under the wing of his father, who served two consecutive terms as president before Prabowo took office in 2024.An Indonesian resident who goes by the nickname “Sya” was one of hundreds of demonstrators who joined protests in Surabaya last weekend, as other cities on the island of Java continued to rally days later, with some clashing with local authorities.“It seems fishy to me that he chose to resign in the midst of all the other efforts to oust him,” she told Courthouse News in a messaging app.As protests were growing and members of parliament were preparing to trigger an impeachment case against the former vice president, Gibran was initially steadfast in public, reassuring the public he had graduated high school and would eventually prove it.The former vice president later said the credential issue had nothing to do with his resignation.“Resignation and impeachment have different consequences, and I’m wondering why he picked the former,” Sya said.Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, left, embraces Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad looks on during a press conference following Raka's resignation at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Gibran played a big role in Prabowo’s campaign for the presidency after the latter lost twice to his father, Jokowi. The two eventually formed an alliance in which Prabowo promised to continue Jokowi’s new capital city legacy project, Nusantara. Gibran served as a bridge between the former opponents.Gibran’s own candidacy was already mired in controversy, since at 36 he was under the constitutionally mandated age of 40 to become vice president. He is now 39.His uncle, Anwar Usmand, made an exception for his nephew as chief justice of Indonesia’s Constitutional Court, sparking nationwide student protests. He was removed from his position shortly after.Since taking office, Prabowo has implemented budget cuts to the Nusantara project to instead focus on his own policies.On Tuesday, Prabowo’s chief of staff, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, was arrested along with two senior police officers, suspected of wiretapping the president, politicians, journalists, NGO representatives and businesspeople. The two are not related.Observers note Listyo is closely linked to Jokowi, adding to the rift with the president. Despite the latest events, Jokowi has proclaimed his support for Prabowo. Experts have said the entire affair, including his son’s resignation, has significantly weakened the Jokowi dynasty.“I think Gibran’s resignation is part of the political process,” Agoes, a Surabaya resident who asked to give only his first name, told Courthouse News. “I don’t know all the details behind his decisions, but I hope everything is handled fairly, transparently and according to the law.“Many people are facing economic difficulties, and we hope politicians will spend less time on political conflicts and much more time finding solutions to people’s everyday problems. At the end of the day, ordinary citizens want a stable economy, affordable living costs and better opportunities for their families,” he said.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads