Gibran Diploma Controversy: PDI-P Opens Dialogue with PKS

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has opened the door to dialogue with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) to discuss the controversy over Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s diploma. PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto also referred to Constitutional Court (MK) Decision No. 90 of 2023, which he described as an abuse of power.

“Yes, we are open to dialogue. After all, the Constitutional Court’s decision makes it abundantly clear to us that Decision No. 90 of 2023 was a deliberate attempt at an abuse of power,” Hasto told reporters at the Youth Pledge Museum in Central Jakarta on Sunday (25 October 2026), detikNews reported.

Hasto said the controversy was not only about ethical violations. In his view, it also involved a criminal offence in which the law was used as an instrument of power.

“Beyond that, in terms of the minimum requirements set by the Constitution, there is a requirement for a senior secondary school diploma or equivalent. The Constitutional Court, it turns out, did not find that diploma,” he said.

Hasto said the controversy over Gibran’s diploma had become a burden for President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. He added that PDI-P had also heard from professors who considered the case a serious ethical violation.

“PDI-P has also listened to the views of professors who have stated that this is a very serious ethical violation, which has instead become a burden on President Prabowo’s leadership,” he said.

Hasto said ethical violations could cause a leader to lose legitimacy in the public’s eyes. Ethics, he argued, should underpin a leader’s policies and conduct.

“So, going forward, we can expect that when ethics are violated, the leader loses legitimacy in the eyes of the Indonesian people. Ethics should be the foundation for all a leader’s policies and actions,” he concluded.

Earlier, PKS secretary-general Muhammad Kholid responded to a speech by party president Almuzzammil Yusuf, who said PKS would act as a bridge for public demands concerning the Gibran diploma controversy. Kholid said the PKS faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) would communicate with other party factions to discuss the issue.

“The PKS central executive board has instructed the DPR faction to establish political communication with the other factions first. The DPR is currently in recess, so we will wait until the next sitting period,” Kholid told reporters on Wednesday (20 October).

Kholid said PKS would explore various views on the controversy. The party would also discuss the possibility of using parliamentary rights of inquiry or the right to express an opinion, both of which have been raised by several parties.

“The important thing is to begin political communication and find out what our colleagues in the DPR think. We’ll see; we’ll explore it first,” he added.