PDIP Warns Against Dragging Puan into Gibran's Diploma Controversy

The Central Executive Board of PDI Perjuangan, Deddy Sitorus, has highlighted viral narratives on social media that drag the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, into the controversy surrounding Vice President Gibran Rakabuming’s diploma verification at the Constitutional Court. The narrative suggests that Puan would replace Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Deddy shared a link containing information regarding the narrative ‘Puan will ascend to Vice President to replace Gibran’ with journalists. Deddy emphasised that the post is untrue and serves only to shift the focus away from the constitutional legal process.

“In my view, this is an organised effort to corner Ms Puan and PDI Perjuangan. The legal process in the Constitutional Court should not be tainted by misleading narratives and politicised to divert attention from the constitutional legal issue,” Deddy told journalists on Monday (5/10/2026).

He stated that the issue regarding Vice President Gibran’s diploma is purely a matter between the plaintiffs in the Constitutional Court. He alleged that there are efforts from Gibran’s supporters to garner sympathy through such posts.

“The issue of the Vice President’s diploma is purely a matter for the plaintiffs; there is no connection or interest involving Ms Puan, let alone PDI Perjuangan,” said Deddy.

“I suspect this is an attempt by the Vice President’s supporters to gain public sympathy. In reality, this is a very substantial and simple matter from a legal perspective,” he added.

He noted that the diploma issue should be able to be proven simply. Deddy criticised the existence of diversionary narratives that involve Puan’s name.

“It only needs to be proven that the claims made by the parties are untrue, and the matter will be settled. There is no need to build malicious narratives to divert the issue, corner other parties, and create cheap drama to gain sympathy,” he concluded.