Constitutional Court to Hold Preliminary Hearing on Gibran Rakabuming Raka's Presidential Candidacy Requirements Next Week

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Constitutional Court (MK) will hold a preliminary hearing to address the 2024 presidential election dispute regarding the candidacy requirements of Gibran Rakabuming Raka as the vice-presidential candidate in the 2024 election.

This is stipulated in the Constitutional Court Regulation (PMK) Number 1 of 2026, signed by MK Chief Justice Suhartoyo on Wednesday (September 16, 2026).

In the considerations section of PMK 1/2026, the regulation was issued due to the submission of the 2024 presidential election dispute lawsuit on September 10, 2026.

"That the determination of stages, activities, and schedules for handling the request as referred to in letter c is procedural regulation and does not constitute an assessment of the substance of the request," reads the considerations of letter d in PMK 1/2026, quoted from the official MK website on Friday (September 18, 2026).

"Based on the considerations mentioned in letters a, b, c, and d, it is necessary to establish a Constitutional Court Regulation concerning the stages, activities, and schedules for handling requests regarding disputes on the results of the 2024 presidential and vice-presidential election submitted in 2026," reads the considerations section letter d of PMK 1/2026.

Furthermore, Article 1 of PMK 1/2026 explains that the stages, activities, and schedules for handling the 2024 presidential election dispute submitted in 2026 are listed in the attachment.

"The determination of stages, activities, and schedules as referred to in Article 1 does not constitute an assessment or position of the Constitutional Court regarding the Court's jurisdiction, the status of the Applicant, the timing of submission, the object of the request, or the substance of the request," reads Article 3 paragraph (1) of PMK 1/2026.

Below is the schedule for the 2024 presidential election dispute trial related to Gibran's candidacy requirements:

The preliminary examination hearing will be held on September 21, 2026. The agenda includes examining the completeness and clarity of the petition's content, as well as examining and validating the Applicant’s evidence.

Next, the hearing for submitting the Respondent's answers, statements from Related Parties, and Testifiers will be held on September 22, 2026.

Then, the main trial examination will be conducted on September 23, 2026. This session consists of two agendas: hearing the Respondent’s answers, statements from Related Parties, and Testifiers.

The second agenda is to validate the Respondent’s evidence, as well as evidence from the Related Parties and Testifiers.

Following that, the judges’ deliberation meeting will be held on September 24, 2026, followed by the verdict session on September 28, 2026.

If further examination is necessary, MK will hold an additional evidence hearing on Tuesday (September 29, 2026), then continue with the verdict session on Monday (October 5, 2026).

ANTARA FOTO/Muhammad Adimaja Scene from the verdict reading session of a judicial review petition at the Constitutional Court building, Jakarta, Thursday (July 23, 2026). In its ruling, the MK partially granted the judicial review concerning internet quota expiration filed by online motorcycle taxi drivers, ordering the government to provide telecommunication service options that ensure users’ remaining quotas remain active and usable.

Gibran's Candidacy Requirements Challenged at MK

As background, Denny and several parties submitted a lawsuit regarding the 2024 presidential election dispute over Gibran's candidacy as vice president, arguing he does not meet the educational requirements.

"We found preliminary indications that the vice-presidential candidate for candidate pair number 02 does not fulfill the education requirement. What is that? The minimum education is a high school diploma or equivalent," said Denny at the Constitutional Court building on Thursday.

The petitioners include the Independent Election Monitoring Committee, Partai Ummat, Denny Indrayana, the Forum of Retired TNI Soldiers, Subhan, Bonatua Silalahi, and Tiurma MS Sihombing.

In the petition read by Refly Harun acting as legal counsel, the petitioners request that MK fully grant their petition.

"Second, to declare that the education requirement as stipulated in Article 169 letter r of Law Number 7 of 2017 on General Elections is an imperative requirement that must be legitimately fulfilled at the time of registration and the determination of presidential and vice-presidential candidates," Refly read the petition.

Third, to disqualify Vice-Presidential Candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka because he does not meet the education requirements as regulated in Article 169 letter r of Law Number 7 of 2017 on General Elections.

Febrianto Adi Saputro Constitutional law expert Denny Indrayana delivering a statement to the media at the Constitutional Court (MK), Jakarta, Thursday (September 10, 2026). (KOMPAS.COM/Febrianto Adi Saputro)

"Fourth, to declare that the determination of Gibran Rakabuming Raka as vice-presidential candidate in the 2024 General Election is legally flawed from the outset and therefore has no binding legal force," he said.

The petitioners also request that MK instruct the People's Consultative Assembly to hold a session to elect a Vice President from two candidates proposed by the President, no later than 60 days after this decision is read, as regulated in Article 8 paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.