VP Gibran Diploma Lawsuit Equals Impeachment, Says KPU

The General Election Commission (KPU) contends that a legal challenge to Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's educational qualifications during the 2024 election is tantamount to an impeachment motion. This assertion was made during a hearing at the Constitutional Court on September 23, 2026, concerning PHPU case No. 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026.

Filing the petition were the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP), the Ummat Party, Denny Indrayana of Integrity Law Firm, and retired military officers, including ex-Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi.

KPU attorney Julfaldi dismissed the petitioners' demand for the Constitutional Court to revoke Gibran's vice-presidential candidacy, stating the case falls under the category of impeachment. He asserted that the petitioners' legal briefs confirm the Constitutional Court's inability to hear election result disputes filed more than two years after the vote. Julfaldi stressed that the court's jurisdiction is strictly defined by statute, without any exceptions.

The KPU argued that disqualifying Gibran via an election dispute mechanism equates to impeachment. However, Julfaldi noted that a separate constitutional avenue governs the removal of an inaugurated president or vice president. This impeachment process occurs under entirely different constitutional rules. Once elected, the president and vice president are subject to an impeachment mechanism outlined in Articles 7A and 7B of the 1945 Constitution.

Impeaching an inaugurated president or vice president cannot be submitted to the Constitutional Court directly; it must first pass through the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Therefore, the KPU concluded that any impeachment process before the Constitutional Court must follow these established constitutional channels.