“Wah, lah itu tanya Pak Presiden itu,” said Pacul, Ketua Bappilu PDIP sekaligus Wakil Ketua MPR.
That was the response from Bambang Wuryanto, better known as Bambang Pacul, when reporters asked about House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani emerging as a potential vice-presidential candidate to replace Gibran Rakabuming Raka, detikNews reported on Friday, November 13, 2026. The PDI-P election campaign chief and MPR deputy speaker emphasized that President Prabowo Subianto holds the ultimate constitutional authority in selecting a new vice president.
The vacancy at the top of the executive branch follows Gibran’s resignation on Thursday, November 12, 2026. President Prabowo announced at the State Palace in Central Jakarta that he accepted the resignation with a heavy heart, praising Gibran for exhibiting knightly and statesmanlike responsibility.
MPR Must Elect a New Vice President Within 60 Days
Under Article 8, Paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution, the MPR must hold a session to elect a new vice president within a maximum of 60 days. The candidates must come from a shortlist of two names proposed by the president, placing the deadline for a confirmed successor no later than January 12, 2027.
/data/photo/2026/11/12/6af56be6ad415.jpg "Photo: Kompas")
“Sampai hari ini kita tidak pernah ada rembukan kayak begitu. Karena kita tahu bahwa itu domainnya Pak Presiden” PDI-P election campaign chief and MPR deputy speaker Bambang Pacul said, clarifying that PDI-P has not held formal internal discussions regarding Puan filling the role and reiterating that the decision remains entirely within the president's domain.
He said that any political lobbying regarding the succession would inevitably target Prabowo or his immediate circle.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra declined to comment on his own name circulating in the vice-presidential hopeful lists. Yusril confirmed that Prabowo will submit two candidates to the MPR after consultations with coalition parties.
“Beliau akan berbicara dengan partai koalisi. Kapan, kami belum tahu. Cuma tadi beliau katakan mungkin saya perlu berbicara dengan partai koalisi, kita maklum hal itu, tapi akan diselenggarakan ya sepenuhnya kita serahkan kepada beliau.”
said Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Menteri Koordinator Bidang Hukum, HAM, Imigrasi, dan Pemasyarakatan, speaking to reporters in Jakarta.
Executive Governance Continues Through the President and Cabinet Ministers
Oce Madril, an administrative law expert at Gadjah Mada University, said that executive governance functions continue through the president and cabinet ministers.
As the constitutional process moves forward, political leaders await formal communications regarding the two designated nominees.
