Court ruling on Gibran’s diploma puts impeachment question in spotlight

The Constitutional Court's ruling that Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka did not complete senior high school has sparked discussions about his eligibility for future elections and the possibility of impeachment proceedings. In its ruling on Tuesday evening, the court found insufficient evidence to substantiate Gibran's claim of possessing a high school diploma, which he utilized to run for vice president in 2024.

However, all nine judges emphasized that their decision could not invalidate Gibran's position as a government official, as his candidacy concluded upon his inauguration in October 2024. Consequently, they deemed the matter no longer an electoral dispute and dismissed the case. The court's decision arose from a complaint filed last month by a group of twelve petitioners who contended that Gibran's candidacy was invalid due to his failure to present a diploma.

Gibran, the eldest son of former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, had attended Orchid Park Secondary School in Singapore and pursued higher education at UTS Insearch in Australia and the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS). He had initially entered the 2024 presidential race alongside Prabowo Subianto, with the tacit approval of Jokowi, following a last-minute constitutional amendment that lifted age restrictions.

In response to the controversy, Gibran expressed respect for the court's ruling while asserting that his educational documents had allowed him to advance to higher education.