Three Lawsuits, Two Setbacks Over Vice-President Gibran’s Diploma
Several parties have filed lawsuits challenging the overseas educational credentials of Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, which were used to meet the requirements for his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election.
The cases were brought before several judicial bodies, including the Constitutional Court (MK), the Central Jakarta District Court and the State Administrative Court (PTUN).
At least three lawsuits have been filed, two of which resulted in rulings that cast doubt on the educational qualification represented by Gibran’s diploma when he stood as a vice-presidential candidate. Here is a list of the cases and rulings concerning his diploma.
Constitutional Court election-result petition
On 10 September 2026, several parties filed a dispute over the 2024 presidential election result (PHPU) with the Constitutional Court, asking it to disqualify Gibran as a vice-presidential candidate.
The case was registered under number 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026. The 12 petitioners included former Deputy Law and Human Rights Minister Denny Indrayana, who alleged that the General Elections Commission (KPU), as the respondent, had engaged in structured, systematic and deliberate manipulation.
They argued that Gibran’s candidacy was administratively defective. Denny said the KPU had inserted Article 18(3) into KPU Regulation No. 19/2023 to enable Gibran to qualify.
On 6 October, the Constitutional Court rejected the petition. However, in its reasoning, the court said it had found no document showing that Gibran held an overseas graduation certificate equivalent to an Indonesian senior secondary-school qualification.
“The Court did not find or receive convincing evidence demonstrating that Gibran Rakabuming Raka holds a diploma, certificate or other qualification from abroad that could be used as a basis for recognising him as having completed at least senior secondary school, an Islamic senior secondary school, a vocational secondary school, an Islamic vocational secondary school or an equivalent institution,” Constitutional Court judge Adies Kadir said during the ruling.
Although the petition was rejected, several parties have urged the House of Representatives and the People’s Consultative Assembly to follow up on the court’s findings. They have called on the House to launch an inquiry, but most parliamentary factions have so far shown no sign of acting.
State Administrative Court lawsuits
Two lawsuits concerning proof of Gibran’s secondary-school qualification were filed with the State Administrative Court. They were brought by Mercy Sihombing and H.M. Subhan, also known as Subhan Palal.
Both cases specifically targeted Gibran’s Certificate of Equivalency for Overseas Education, issued by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, previously known as the Ministry of Education and Culture.
In the first case, Mercy Sihombing withdrew her lawsuit through her lawyer, Denny Indrayana. He said the Director General of Secondary and Special Education had shown no good faith in providing evidence of Gibran’s diploma.
“But we want to see how serious the ministry is. Are they willing to produce the supporting evidence for the certificate? As of last week, it had not been provided,” Denny said on Thursday (29/19).
In the second case, the State Administrative Court judge ruled that it could not accept Subhan Palal’s lawsuit, saying the court lacked jurisdiction. Subhan had also filed a lawsuit at the Central Jakarta District Court at the same time, but that case was likewise declared inadmissible.
Supreme Court appeal
Subhan appealed to the Supreme Court on 22 September 2026. In its ruling on 30 October, the Supreme Court granted his appeal.
The ruling declared invalid the certificate of equivalency for Gibran’s senior secondary education, which had been used to meet the requirements for his 2024 presidential-election candidacy.
“I received notification through my e-court account from the Supreme Court, dated 30 October 2026. In case No. 742/K/TUN/2026, the ruling grants the appeal,” Subhan said.
Subhan sought three orders: that his lawsuit be granted in full, that Gibran’s education-equivalency certificate be declared invalid, and that the document be withdrawn from its holder, the Director General of General and Special Education at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.