Court rejects petition but raises questions over Gibran’s high school documentation.
Indonesia’s Constitutional Court has rejected a challenge seeking to remove Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, while leaving unresolved questions over the documents used to establish his educational eligibility for the 2024 election.
Court Declares Petition Inadmissible
Indonesia’s Constitutional Court ruled on October 6, 2026, against a petition seeking to disqualify Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka over his education credentials. Chief Justice Suhartoyo said the petition was inadmissible, while the court found that the petitioners did not have the legal standing required to bring what was effectively an election-results dispute. The challenge had been filed by 12 petitioners who argued that Gibran did not meet the required senior high school or equivalent education requirement.
Court Questions Submitted Education Documents
The Constitutional Court said it found no convincing evidence that Gibran possessed a foreign diploma equivalent to an Indonesian senior high school qualification. The reports said the documents submitted to election authorities included a transcript and certificate of attendance rather than a high school diploma. His bachelor’s degree, completed through the Management Development Institute of Singapore and awarded by the University of Bradford, was not disputed.
Judges Say Disqualification Cannot Be Ordered
The court said it could not disqualify Gibran on the grounds raised because he was no longer a vice-presidential candidate. It also ruled that the petitioners lacked legal standing to challenge the 2024 election result, as they had not participated in the presidential election.
Petitioners Plan to Approach Parliament
Members of the petitioners’ legal team said they viewed parts of the ruling as supporting their concerns about Gibran’s education documentation. Lawyer Bambang Widjojanto argued that the findings could provide grounds for further political action, while Refly Harun said the group planned to seek a meeting with parliamentary leaders. These statements represent the petitioners’ interpretation of the ruling and do not mean impeachment proceedings have been initiated or that Gibran has been found ineligible for office.
Gibran Says He Will Keep Working
Gibran said on October 7 that he respected the Constitutional Court’s decision and would remain focused on carrying out President Prabowo Subianto’s programs. Responding to questions about his high school credentials, he pointed to the fact that he later completed a bachelor’s degree in Singapore. The presidential palace also said Prabowo respected the independence of the judiciary and would not intervene in the case.
For Indonesians, the ruling keeps Gibran in office while leaving debate over his education documentation open to possible action through other legal or political institutions. For Singaporeans, the case is also notable because part of Gibran’s secondary and tertiary education took place in Singapore, making his overseas academic record central to the dispute.
Sources: CNA (2026) , Straits Times (2026)
Keywords: Gibran Education Credentials, Constitutional Court Indonesia, Gibran Vice President, Indonesia Election 2024, Gibran Diploma, Indonesian Politics
