Constitutionally, Gibran Resigns Honorably

AFTER a lengthy and tumultuous debate, the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, officially submitted his resignation letter as Vice President.

This statement of resignation does not position Gibran as a guilty party; rather, it relates to issues of ethics and the dignity of the government.

We must avoid misinterpretations that suggest Gibran has been declared guilty under the law.

In fact, both legally and constitutionally, there is no verdict that has found him guilty concerning allegations of forgery or diploma misuse.

Stepping down honorably within the framework of the 1945 Constitution is not an admission of criminal wrongdoing but rather a political and ethical choice that distinctly separates the Supreme Court's Decision No. 742 K/TUN/2026 from the subsequent revocation of the Certificate of Equal Educational Degree Equivalent to High School No. 9149/D.D1/KS/2019 by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the personal accountability of the officials.

Not a Guilty Verdict

Although the Supreme Court ruled in an administrative case that the basis for issuing the letter of certification only states attendance and grades, not proof of completing education equivalent to high school, this does not imply a criminal offense.

It is clearly stated in the ruling that the document is void, and the revocation is ordered. What was annulled was a product of administrative decisions, not Gibran's criminal actions.

Likewise, the Constitutional Court's Decision No. 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026 did not assert otherwise.

The Constitutional Court found no convincing evidence of a diploma, certificate, or foreign degree that could be equated with high school education.

This assessment is negative (insufficient evidence in the trial), not positive (proven forgery). The Constitutional Court did not disqualify, impose criminal sanctions, or declare Gibran guilty.

Under Indonesian law, a decision declared void due to administrative issues does not equate to a determination that an individual is guilty.

The analogy is straightforward: a driver's license revoked due to flawed issuance procedures does not automatically make the holder a criminal for forgery.

Educational requirements are regulated by law (Article 6 Paragraph 2), but the dismissal of an incumbent official follows the mechanisms outlined in Articles 7A and 7B.

The Supreme Court does not have the authority to dismiss a Vice President. Thus, the choice to resign constitutionally is a personal stance, similar to Vice President Mohammad Hatta's resignation in 1956.

After the vacancy occurs, Article 8 Paragraph (2) mandates that the MPR selects a replacement within 60 days from the two candidates proposed by the President. A resignation letter does not require MPR approval.