The Supreme Court of Indonesia has ruled the certificate of equivalence for Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s high school diploma invalid. The decision, issued on October 30, 2026, grants the cassation petition filed by a citizen named Subhan, effectively canceling the lower court’s previous ruling. Former President Joko Widodo, responding to the verdict on November 5, 2026, stated that all parties must respect the legal process and the nation’s constitution.
Legal Status of the Educational Certificate
The Supreme Court’s decision, registered under number 742 K/TUN/2026, declares that the Certificate of Equivalence Number 9149/D.D1/KS/2019—issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture on August 6, 2019—is not legally binding and must be revoked. The court ordered the document to be withdrawn from the holder and destroyed. This certificate was previously used by the Vice President to register as a candidate during the 2024 presidential election.
Did You Know? The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, which originally issued the certificate in 2019, has since undergone a change in nomenclature to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen), which is now the institution responsible for executing the court’s order.
Deadline for Administrative Action
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education faces a strict timeline to comply with the ruling. Following a recent Constitutional Court decision, the timeframe for executing final court judgments in administrative cases has been reduced from 60 working days to 14 working days. Based on the October 30, 2026 ruling, the deadline for the ministry to act is Wednesday, November 18, 2026. If no action is taken by this date, the disputed certificate will automatically lose its legal force.
Expert Insight: Legal analysts emphasize that in administrative law, a declaration of “batal demi hukum” or “batal” carries significant weight. While some experts interpret this as an indication of substantive defects like data manipulation, the practical implications for the Vice President’s tenure will likely hinge on the political response from the House of Representatives (DPR) when the new session begins.
Political Implications in Parliament
The ruling has prompted discussions among politicians regarding the potential use of the Right to Express Opinion (Hak Menyatakan Pendapat, HMP) as a pathway toward impeachment. The next steps for the administration may depend on the stance of President Prabowo Subianto, who leads the coalition majority. While some political factions are calling for formal discussions, others, such as the Gerindra Party, have indicated they prefer to address the matter through established constitutional mechanisms.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to begin its next session on November 10, 2026. Representatives from the Democratic Party and the Gerindra Party have suggested that a formal position on the matter will be determined once the session commences. Meanwhile, academic observers have noted that the absence of evidence for a high school diploma, as previously highlighted by the Constitutional Court, adds complexity to the ongoing debate over the Vice President’s eligibility.
Supreme Court Invalidates Vice President High School Equivalence Certificate
What specific document was declared invalid by the Supreme Court?
The court invalidated Certificate of Equivalence Number 9149/D.D1/KS/2019, which was issued on August 6, 2019, by the Directorate General of Primary and Secondary Education. This document served as the basis for the Vice President’s high school equivalence qualification.
What is the current deadline for the Ministry to execute the court’s order?
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education must execute the ruling within 14 working days of the October 30 decision. This sets the final deadline for compliance as November 18, 2026.
Indonesia’s Supreme Court invalidated a high-school equivalency certificate submitted by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka as part of his candidacy in the 2024 election, raising questions about his ability to remain in office or run again in 2029. https://t.co/S1WXtD58YB
How has the Vice President responded to calls for his resignation?
Reports indicate that the Vice President has resisted calls to resign from office. Supporters of the administration and various political figures are currently evaluating the constitutional path forward as the next parliamentary session approaches.
How will the upcoming parliamentary session on November 10 influence the government’s response to the judicial findings?
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