Mahkamah Agung Cancels Gibran High School Equivalency Letter
The Indonesian Supreme Court has ruled that the high school equivalency certificate of Gibran Rakabuming Raka is null and void. In a decision issued on Friday, October 30, 2026, the Supreme Court granted a cassation appeal filed by lawyer HM Subhan, overturning lower court rulings that had previously dismissed the challenge against the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
The ruling centers on case number 742 K/TUN/2026, which targeted the ministerial equivalency letter used during the 2024 presidential election cycle. According to the court’s amar putusan cited by CNN Indonesia and BBC, the Supreme Court annulled the Judge of the day decision and ruled entirely in favor of the plaintiff. Through the same cassation verdict, the Supreme Court ordered the withdrawal and destruction of the document, applying an from then on character that means the certificate is considered to have never possessed legal force since its issuance.
Political Parties and Legal Experts Debate Consequences
Gerindra Party Spokesperson Sugiat Santoso stated that his party respects the Supreme Court’s independence and views the decision as part of the democratic legal process. Speaking on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Sugiat emphasized that the dispute concerns the administrative validity of a ministry-issued document rather than the constitutional standing of the vice presidency itself. He called on the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the General Elections Commission to provide an open public explanation regarding the implementation of the ruling and its implications for past candidate administration. We hope that the relevant ministries and authorized institutions can provide an open explanation regarding the follow-up to this decision, including its implications for the administration of the nomination at that time.
said Sugiat.
Different legal figures have urged more severe consequences following the verdict. Former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD argued via social media that the creation of the equivalency letter warrants a criminal investigation, pointing to what he termed the smuggling of specific provisions under General Elections Commission regulations. Meanwhile, legal scholar Denny Indrayana publicly questioned the legal basis for Gibran to remain in office after the cancellation of his educational equivalency documents, as reported by Hukumonline.
Constitutional Court Context and Prior Proceedings
The Supreme Court ruling follows earlier scrutiny by the Constitutional Court under case number 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026. While the Constitutional Court previously dismissed petitions challenging Gibran’s eligibility due to a lack of legal standing, its justices noted in their legal reasoning that they found no convincing proof of an overseas high school diploma or certificate equivalent to Indonesian secondary education standards.
Vice President Gibran responded to the ongoing legal challenges on Friday, October 30, 2026, telling reporters in Jakarta West that he had prepared all necessary proof for evidentiary hearings before plaintiffs withdrew prior actions. Legal records show that the case progressed from an initial dismissal at the Jakarta State Administrative Court under case number 62/G/2026/PTUN.JKT through an unsuccessful appeal at the Jakarta High State Administrative Court before reaching the Supreme Court.
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