Legislators from all eight factions seek formal review of Gibran’s vice-presidential eligibility.
The controversy surrounding Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s educational credentials has reached parliament, with 120 lawmakers reportedly submitting a proposal to exercise the House of Representatives’ Right to Express an Opinion, a mechanism that can form part of constitutional removal proceedings.
120 Lawmakers Sign Parliamentary Proposal
A total of 120 members of Indonesia’s House of Representatives from all eight parliamentary factions submitted a proposal on November 11 to exercise the Hak Menyatakan Pendapat (HMP), or Right to Express an Opinion, concerning Gibran. The signatories comprise 28 PKS members, 19 from NasDem, 18 each from PKB and the Democratic Party, 14 from PDI-P, 11 each from Golkar and Gerindra, and one from PAN. Deputy House Speaker Saan Mustopa said the proposal had exceeded the minimum requirement and would be processed under parliamentary procedures.
Proposal Centers on Gibran’s Education Credentials
The lawmakers are seeking to exercise the HMP based on allegations that Gibran no longer meets the constitutional requirements for the vice presidency because of questions surrounding the educational documents used for his 2024 candidacy. These allegations have not, by themselves, established that Gibran is constitutionally ineligible or must be removed from office. Under Indonesia’s MD3 Law, the HMP allows the House to express an opinion on allegations that a president or vice president has committed certain violations or no longer meets the qualifications for office.
Court Decisions Reopened Eligibility Debate
The dispute intensified following reported court rulings concerning the educational documents Gibran used to qualify for the 2024 presidential election. Lawmakers supporting the parliamentary proposal argue that the rulings raise questions about whether he met the required qualifications. The legal implications remain disputed, and the rulings should not be interpreted as automatically disqualifying Gibran or removing him from office.
DPR Scheduled to Take Up Proposal on November 12
The submission does not mean Gibran has been impeached. House leaders said the HMP proposal was scheduled to be announced at a plenary meeting on November 12, with further consideration subject to parliamentary procedures. The proposal represents an initial step toward possible constitutional proceedings, not a decision to remove Gibran from office.
Constitutional Process Requires Courts and MPR
Indonesia’s Constitution provides several further stages before a president or vice president can be removed. A House opinion seeking dismissal must first be examined by the Constitutional Court. If the constitutional requirements are ultimately found to have been met and the process advances, the matter can proceed to the People’s Consultative Assembly, or MPR. A final MPR decision requires a plenary attended by at least three-quarters of its members and approval from at least two-thirds of those present, after the president or vice president is given an opportunity to respond.
The support of 120 lawmakers marks a significant escalation in the controversy surrounding Gibran, but it remains the opening stage of a constitutionally defined process rather than his removal from office. For Indonesians, the coming parliamentary and judicial proceedings will test how institutions handle questions over eligibility and political accountability. For Singaporeans and regional observers, the developments are significant because they involve the vice presidency of Southeast Asia’s largest country and could shape Indonesia’s domestic political environment.
Sources: Batampos (2026) , BBC (2026)
Keywords: Gibran Impeachment, Hak Menyatakan Pendapat, Indonesia DPR, Gibran Diploma, Vice President Indonesia, Indonesian Politics
