Gibran’s Age and Educational Qualifications Deemed Legally Defective; PDIP’s Hasto Sets Out Three Key Concerns

Jakarta, VIVA – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka no longer had legitimacy as a leader. He made the remarks in response to questions about impeachment from reporters in Blitar, East Java.

Hasto outlined three key concerns, ranging from Constitutional Court Decision No. 90 of 2023 to whether the required educational qualifications had been met.

“From the outset, PDIP has raised three important points. First, the issuance of Constitutional Court Decision No. 90 of 2023 was a legal manoeuvre. Second, the 2024 presidential and legislative elections, as well as the regional elections that year, were marred by abuses of power. Third, a ‘sneaked-in’ provision was introduced to force the issue when Gibran Rakabuming could not show a senior high-school or equivalent diploma, as found by the Constitutional Court,” Hasto said.

He concluded that the loss of these fundamental requirements automatically stripped Gibran of his legitimacy as a leader.

“On the basis of these three points alone, he automatically no longer has legitimacy as a leader. It was not only Gibran’s process that was defective; the requirements for becoming a leader, both in terms of age and educational qualifications, were also not met,” Hasto said.

On taking the matter forward through legislative channels, Hasto said PDIP was continuing political dialogue with other factions in the House of Representatives. He added that recent allegations of wiretapping had further intensified public calls for action.

“That is why, if this political process is to continue, PDIP is also speaking with the factions in the House of Representatives. But with the wiretapping case, public pressure has grown stronger, and we believe these increasingly consolidated voices will be heard by all the factions in the House,” he said.

Asked whether the eight parliamentary factions shared the same view, Hasto confirmed that political discussions between factions were continuing intensively.

“The dialogue is ongoing. Clearly, this can no longer be tolerated,” Hasto concluded.