/data/photo/2026/09/14/6aa729ab42a1d.jpg "DPR Weighs Gibran Impeachment After Court Nullifies Diploma")
The Supreme Court ruled on October 30 that Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s high school equivalency certificate is null and void, throwing his eligibility into legal question just as Indonesia’s Parliament prepares to end its recess on November 8 and reconvene November 9, nasional.kompas.com reported.
The ruling, issued in Cassation Decision No. 742 K/TUN/2026, declared the certificate of educational equivalency issued by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education invalid ab initio and ordered its withdrawal, according to Warta Ekonomi. Constitutional law expert Bivitri Susanti of STHI Jentera told Hukumonline that when a document is declared null and void, no legal consequences arise from its issuance, meaning Gibran’s candidacy technically fell into the disqualification category.
The Legal Shift from Candidacy to Removal
Bivitri explained that the debate over Gibran’s candidacy status is no longer relevant because that phase has passed and the officials have been inaugurated, shifting the legal solution to the impeachment regime under Articles 7A and 7B of the 1945 Constitution, Hukumonline reported. These articles allow the People’s Consultative Assembly to remove the President or Vice President upon a House of Representatives proposal if they are proven to have committed serious legal violations or no longer meet the requirements.
The Constitutional Court previously directed the mechanism toward Article 7B, Bivitri noted, adding that Parliament can use Article 7B as the procedure by treating the Supreme Court ruling as strengthening evidence, Hukumonline reported.
Eight Factions Communicate as Parties Split Three Ways
The National Awakening Party (PKB) and Golkar represent the substantive camp; PKB Commission II member Muhammad Khozin said both court rulings must serve as the substantial basis for factions’ next political steps, nasional.kompas.com reported.
Speaking on Kompas.com’s Gaspol! podcast on November 6, Khozin claimed eight factions in the House were communicating about plans to submit hak angket, interpellation, and statements of opinion, and that all factions agreed the Gibran diploma controversy must be resolved immediately, nasional.kompas.com reported.
From Certificate to Wiretapping: The Wider Political Storm
The certificate ruling has become entangled with allegations of illegal wiretapping at National Police headquarters involving former police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo. Constitutional law expert Denny Indrayana described the wiretapping scandal, the certificate case, and other legal matters as part of a “Jokowi-Gibran Gate” involving state institutions, posting his analysis on his personal channel November 5, tutur.co.id reported. He noted that if the alleged presidential wiretapping is linked to treason, the penalty could be death, and he highlighted that impeachment proceedings against Gibran could begin with support from just 25 House members before moving to the Constitutional Court and the People’s Consultative Assembly, tutur.co.id reported.
Intelligence and geopolitics observer Amir Hamzah said the mounting political pressure on Gibran could make former President Joko Widodo and security institution officials who held strategic positions during his administration feel panic, telling Rmol.id on November 4 that the anxiety extends beyond Jokowi to “security institution leaders and government officials who were golden children during the Jokowi administration.” He warned that such political developments could threaten President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership through physical or non-physical means, Rmol.id reported.
Meanwhile, Noviana Kurniati, known as Novi Bule and deputy chair of the South Jakarta branch of PDI-P, warned Jokowi and his volunteers not to intervene in Prabowo’s government, calling David Pajung’s statement that the Prabowo-Gibran ticket was “one package” a flawed narrative that implied Prabowo’s position could be threatened if Gibran faced problems, Warta Ekonomi reported. Warta Ekonomi reported that she emphasized the word “or” in Article 7A means presidential and vice-presidential accountability stand separately.
Parliament Reconvenes November 9
The House recess ends November 8, with sessions resuming November 9, nasional.kompas.com reported. Amir Hamzah specifically flagged the November 9 session date as a moment when political dynamics could intensify and speculation about the government’s future could multiply, Rmol.id reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly did the Supreme Court rule on October 30?
The court declared Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s high school equivalency certificate null and void ab initio in Cassation Decision No. 742 K/TUN/2026 and ordered the document withdrawn, according to Warta Ekonomi and nasional.kompas.com.
Constitutional law expert Bivitri Susanti told Hukumonline that the matter has shifted from disqualification to the impeachment regime under Articles 7A and 7B of the 1945 Constitution, which require a House proposal and People’s Consultative Assembly decision.
The right of inquiry is a parliamentary right of inquiry; Denny Indrayana told tutur.co.id that impeachment proceedings against Gibran could begin with support from a minimum of 25 House members before proceeding to the Constitutional Court and the People’s Consultative Assembly.
The recess ends November 8 and sessions resume November 9, when the eight factions are expected to advance discussions on hak angket, interpellation, and statements of opinion regarding the certificate controversy, according to Muhammad Khozin as reported by nasional.kompas.com.
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