Indonesian Parliament Weighs Action Against VP Gibran Over Diploma Controversy
The Indonesian House of Representatives is reviewing proposals for its right of expression following rulings regarding Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Portal Islam 
This article was first published in Indonesian. Baca versi Bahasa Indonesia →
The House of Representatives (DPR RI) officially resumed its legislative session on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, holding a plenary meeting at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta following a one-month recess. The opening of the session was marked by growing momentum surrounding the use of the council's constitutional rights, specifically the proposal for the House's Right to Express Opinion (Hak Menyatakan Pendapat) concerning the controversy over the educational qualifications of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
This discourse emerged alongside rulings from the Supreme Court (MA) and considerations by the Constitutional Court (MK) regarding the certificate of educational equivalence used by Gibran during his candidacy in the 2024 Presidential Election. The DPR leadership stated that they are open to receiving all aspirations and reports across various party factions in accordance with applicable legal and constitutional mechanisms.
Leadership Stance and Session Focus
According to a report by BBC News Indonesia on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, House Speaker Puan Maharani did not specifically mention the controversy surrounding Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's diploma when outlining the strategic issues targeted for focus during the parliamentary session. In her plenary speech, Puan listed several strategic issues, including discussions on alleged wiretapping targeting President Prabowo Subianto, post-disaster infrastructure development, and the evaluation of handling forest and land fires.
Although the official plenary agenda did not list discussions on the Vice President's diploma controversy, Puan emphasized that the DPR leadership will listen to input from the various factions and follow up after the opening of the session. Responding to questions regarding the controversy and calls from several lawmakers to invoke the right to express opinion, Puan stated that the leadership will review the steps available to the legislative body.
As reported by BBC News Indonesia, Puan Maharani explained the process for receiving these aspirations when met on Tuesday, November 10, 2026:
"Yesterday, during the recess, we already received a lot of input through factions and faction members regarding what the DPR can do. As for the mechanism, the leadership will certainly process the matter, listen to reports and input, and only then take further steps."
Puan Maharani, Speaker of the DPR RI
Puan emphasized the importance of adhering to the prevailing state governance rules in Indonesia. "Of course, everything must follow the existing mechanisms and constitution, so we abide by the constitution," Puan added.
Meanwhile, BBC News Indonesia reported that Deputy Speaker of the DPR Sufmi Dasco Ahmad stated on Monday, November 9, 2026, that cross-factional discussions during the recess were still ongoing informally. Dasco mentioned that official mechanisms can only be implemented once the DPR session officially reopens.
"Regarding the existing dynamics, many mass organizations and cross-factional DPR members do wish to voice their aspirations through the mechanisms available in the DPR concerning the vice-president issue."
Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI
Drafting Proposals and Cross-Factional Support
BBC News Indonesia reported that efforts to push for the right to express opinion have begun to materialize at the lawmaker level. Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction member Mardani Ali Sera revealed prior to the plenary meeting on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, that the draft proposal for the right to express opinion had been signed by a number of legislators, citing a report by Kompas.
"They have signed. Those from PKS number over 10, and the count keeps growing. God willing, the right to express opinion will proceed."
Mardani Ali Sera, DPR RI Member from the PKS Faction
According to Mardani's explanation cited by BBC News Indonesia, this constitutional step has garnered support from nearly a majority of factions in the DPR RI. This push has intensified alongside public demands for the DPR to take a political stance on the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court rulings.
Previously, PKS Secretary-General M Kholid confirmed to Kompas.com on Monday, November 9, 2026, that his party had established communication with various factions in the DPR RI. Kholid assessed that political mechanisms need to roll forward following the legal proceedings in the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court.
"God willing, (PKS) will carry out its duties, utilizing its constitutional rights. The right to express opinion is more relevant and holds a greater chance."
M Kholid, Secretary-General of PKS
Support for invoking the right to express opinion also came from the Golkar Party faction. BBC News Indonesia reported that Golkar Deputy General Chair Ahmad Doli Kurnia stated on Monday, November 9, 2026, that this right is highly relevant for responding to current legal developments, including the possibility of a vice-presidential impeachment process.
"The relevant right for the DPR to use in relation to the Constitutional Court's decision at that time, especially now that there is a Supreme Court ruling, is the right to express opinion."
Ahmad Doli Kurnia, Deputy General Chair of the Golkar Party
Constitutional Stages and Grassroots Aspirations
According to a report by Republika on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 15:38 WIB (UTC+7), Commission XIII DPR RI member Yanuar Arif Wibowo from the PKS faction stated that Gibran Rakabuming Raka has the option to choose to step down or be impeached through a process in the DPR. Yanuar explained that the election process that chose President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran has concluded, and both have been officially inaugurated.
"Therefore, the current regime is a governing administration. And it is supervised by the DPR. And if several matters considered to be violations are found, then the DPR can exercise its constitutional rights."
Yanuar Arif Wibowo, Member of Commission XIII DPR RI
Yanuar outlined the stages of exercising the DPR's constitutional rights, which can begin from the right of inquiry (hak angket) to the right to express opinion. According to the Republika report, Yanuar detailed the procedural flow:
"Yes, later it is sent to the Constitutional Court, the outcome of the Constitutional Court's decision is then returned to the DPR, and the DPR then conveys it to the MPR, up to that point."
Yanuar Arif Wibowo, Member of Commission XIII DPR RI
Yanuar stated that he would use his constitutional rights to voice the aspirations of the public. Based on his observations in his electoral district, Yanuar claimed that grassroots communities no longer wish for Gibran to serve as Vice President following the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court rulings declaring Gibran's educational certificate for the vice-presidential candidacy invalid.
Context of Supreme Court and Constitutional Court Legal Rulings
Based on reporting by BBC News Indonesia, this political dynamic in the DPR stems from the Supreme Court ruling handed down on Friday, October 30, 2026. In cassation decision number 742 K/TUN/2026 filed by an advocate named Subhan, the Supreme Court annulled the judex facti decision and granted the plaintiff's lawsuit in its entirety.
"Grant the cassation. Annul the judex facti decision. Adjudicate independently: grant the plaintiff's lawsuit in its entirety."
Supreme Court Decision Number 742 K/TUN/2026
With this cassation ruling on October 30, 2026, the Supreme Court declared that the certificate of equivalence for Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's high school diploma is invalid and null and void by law.
The Supreme Court ruling complements the prior legal considerations of the Constitutional Court on October 6, 2026. Although the Constitutional Court could not substantively accept the lawsuit regarding the dispute over VP Gibran's educational requirements for the 2024 Presidential Election, the court stated in its ruling considerations that it found no evidence indicating Gibran possessed a foreign diploma.
BBC News Indonesia also cited the perspective of constitutional law expert Titi Anggraini. Titi assessed that this diploma-related legal issue has been adjudicated factually and objectively by the Constitutional Court. According to Titi, if the rulings of these two highest judicial institutions are not responded to by political parties in the DPR, the issue risks becoming a protracted problem within the government.
"It would actually become a problem if the parties in the DPR do not take any steps."
Titi Anggraini, Constitutional Law Expert
Wisdom and Islamic Perspective
From an Islamic perspective, governance and national leadership constitute a major trust (amanah) that must be carried out with complete honesty, justice, and adherence to established legal agreements or constitutions (mu'ahadah). The exercise of constitutional rights by public representatives through official deliberative mechanisms in the DPR represents a form of oversight to ensure the government operates upon the foundation of truth and justice.
Allah commands mankind to fulfill trusts to those entitled to them and to judge with justice among people without regard to status:
۞ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ اَنْ تُؤَدُّوا الْاَمٰنٰتِ اِلٰٓى اَهْلِهَاۙ وَاِذَا حَكَمْتُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ اَنْ تَحْكُمُوْا بِالْعَدْلِ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُمْ بِهٖ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ سَمِيْعًاۢ بَصِيْرًا ﴿٥٨﴾
Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.
Qur'an, Surah An-Nisaa [4]: 58 (Sahih International)
The resolution of any differences of opinion or disputes in state affairs should be grounded in a sincere intention to preserve public welfare (maslahah ammah), respect the law, and keep the nation away from division. By pursuing a transparent and courteous constitutional path, the people's representative body is expected to provide legal certainty and maintain public trust for the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
