Prabowo must nominate two candidates before MPR elects Gibran’s replacement within 60 days.
Indonesia has entered an unusual constitutional transition after Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned as vice president on November 12. Unlike a presidential election, his successor will not be chosen by the public but through a tightly regulated process involving President Prabowo Subianto and the People’s Consultative Assembly, or MPR.
Vice Presidency Formally Becomes Vacant
MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani said Gibran’s resignation left the vice-presidential position vacant on November 12. President Prabowo remains in office and continues governing normally. Under Article 8 paragraph 2 of Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution, the MPR must elect a replacement no later than 60 days after the vacancy occurs. No nationwide election is required.
MPR Prepares Timetable and Selection Process
The MPR leadership is responsible for organizing the process to fill the vacancy, including setting a date for the election plenary session. According to The Straits Times, MPR leaders are expected to begin preparing the timetable within three days of the vacancy. A joint leadership meeting was scheduled for November 13 to discuss the election date, request two nominees from Prabowo, establish a candidate verification team, and form an ad hoc team to prepare a draft MPR decree.
Prabowo Must Nominate Two Candidates
Under Indonesia’s Constitution, Prabowo must nominate two candidates for vice president, with the MPR responsible for electing one of them. Article 46 of Law No. 17 of 2014 requires the president to submit both names and their supporting documents at least 14 days before the MPR’s election plenary session. MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani also said the president would have 14 days after receiving the assembly’s formal request to submit the nominees.
Candidates Face Verification Before MPR Vote
An MPR verification team is expected to examine whether both nominees meet the legal requirements for vice president. According to The Straits Times, the review must be completed within seven working days of receiving the documents, with any deficiencies addressed before the vote. Both candidates must formally confirm their willingness to stand before MPR members vote. The candidate receiving the most votes will be selected as vice president.
Tie Could Give Prabowo Final Decision
If the two candidates receive the same number of votes, the MPR will conduct another ballot. Should the second vote also end in a tie, Prabowo will choose between the two nominees. Once a winner is determined, the MPR formally confirms the result and the new vice president takes the oath of office before serving the remainder of the current presidential term.
Gibran’s resignation has triggered a constitutional replacement process rather than another presidential election, with the MPR required to fill the vacancy within 60 days from two candidates nominated by Prabowo. For Indonesians, attention will now turn to the president’s nominees and how the MPR conducts the selection. For Singaporeans and regional observers, the transition is significant because the eventual choice could influence Indonesia’s political leadership and government dynamics during the remainder of Prabowo’s term.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , EN Tempo (2026)
Keywords: Indonesia New Vice President, Gibran Resignation, Prabowo Vice President Nominees, MPR Election, Vice Presidential Vacancy, Indonesian Constitution
