JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka offered to resign during talks with President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday, but it was not immediately clear whether the president accepted, The Associated Press reported, citing officials.

State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi told reporters at the presidential palace that the meeting lasted more than two hours. Prabowo advised Raka to “continue pursuing legal avenues to defend the validity of his academic documents,” Hadi said.

The offer follows mounting pressure over Raka’s academic qualifications. Last month, Indonesia’s Supreme Court ruled that documents he submitted concerning his overseas education did not meet election requirements, according to AP’s report, published by NPR. The ruling intensified calls from some lawmakers for his impeachment.

Raka, 39, is the son of former President Joko Widodo. Speaking briefly to reporters as he left his office later Tuesday, he did not address the resignation offer.

“I respect all criticism and feedback from the public regarding the developments that are taking place,” Raka said. “I do not want the current situation to become a prolonged political controversy.”

The dispute comes amid a widening political rift between Prabowo and Widodo. The former president had backed Prabowo’s presidential bid after he selected Raka as his running mate.

Sources