Jokowi Urges Due Process as VP Gibran Faces Inquiry, Impeachment Calls
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- Due Process Call: Former Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called for strict adherence to due process following mounting demands for a parliamentary inquiry and impeachment against Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
- Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court recently granted a cassation appeal revoking a key government document that recognized Gibran’s foreign education as equivalent to a senior high school diploma.
- Parliamentary Inquiry: Key political factions in the House of Representatives, including the National Awakening Party (PKB), are weighing a formal inquiry into the administrative process behind the certificate’s issuance.
JAKARTA, INDONESIAN POST — Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, has responded to growing demands for a parliamentary inquiry and potential impeachment proceedings against Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
The calls intensified after consecutive rulings from the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court regarding minimum educational requirements for presidential and vice-presidential candidates placed Gibran’s academic qualifications under renewed public scrutiny.
Speaking to reporters, Jokowi urged all political actors to respect ongoing legal mechanisms and abide by constitutional principles.
“We must respect all existing legal processes, and we must also respect the rights enshrined in our constitution. I believe that is the key point,” Jokowi told journalists at the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Legal Scrutiny Surrounding Gibran’s Qualifications
In its October 6, 2026 ruling (Case No. 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026), the Constitutional Court noted that it found no conclusive evidence that Gibran held a foreign-issued school-leaving certificate, qualification, or diploma that met the criteria for recognition as equivalent to an Indonesian senior high school education.
However, the Constitutional Court dismissed the petition as inadmissible, ruling that disputes over candidate qualifications could no longer be resolved through election challenge procedures once the candidate had been officially sworn into office. Gibran assumed the vice presidency on October 20, 2024.
The controversy gained fresh momentum following a subsequent ruling by the Supreme Court. The court granted a cassation appeal filed by citizen Subhan Palal against the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education regarding the administrative decision that validated Gibran’s high school equivalence.
In Ruling No. 742 K/TUN/2026, handed down on October 30, 2026, the Supreme Court overturned lower court rulings and granted the plaintiff’s demands in full. The verdict effectively invalidated Certificate No. 9149/D.D1/KS/2019, issued on August 6, 2019, which had served as the legal foundation for recognizing Gibran’s educational eligibility.
The Supreme Court’s decision sparked immediate reactions within the House of Representatives (DPR). Factions including the National Awakening Party (PKB) confirmed they are considering invoking the House’s right of inquiry (Hak Angket) to investigate the administrative process behind the issuance of the equivalency certificate.
Political observers note that lawmakers are also assessing the possibility of triggering the House’s right to express an opinion (Hak Menyatakan Pendapat), a formal constitutional step that could initiate impeachment proceedings if Gibran is determined to have failed to meet eligibility requirements for the vice presidency.
INILAH.COM | INDONESIAN POST
