Indonesia’s Senior Law Minister and VP candidate Mahfud resigns before polls

Vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD, speaking to journalists during his campaign rally after announcing in a live-streamed Instagram statement that he would tender his resignation as Indonesia's Chief Security Minister, in Banda Aceh on Jan 31, 2024. - Reuters

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s vice-presidential hopeful Mahfud MD has submitted his resignation from his post as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs to avoid any conflict of interest in the upcoming election.

The resignation was given to President Joko Widodo on Thursday (Feb 1), Mahfud said in a televised speech. Mahfud, who has held the post since 2019, is the running mate of former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo in the Feb 14 elections.