Dispute Over Gibran's Educational Requirements in Constitutional Court: Allegations of a "Stealth Clause" and KPU Admissions

“There was an Equivalency Certificate that was indicated to have been issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture's Directorate General of Primary and Secondary Education very quickly, in less than 24 hours, on August 26, 2019, which has not yet been demonstrated to have the supporting documents proving graduation,” said the petitioners' attorney, Bambang Widjajanto.

Bambang considered that the flaws surrounding the candidacy process cannot simply be remedied by an inauguration.

He asserted that the inauguration is a subsequent stage reliant on the validity of the candidacy, not an instrument to remedy defects inherent in that candidacy process.

“Therefore, the inauguration does not have the healing power regarding defects in qualifications that have not been met from the outset, especially if it is alleged that there is potential manipulation in the fulfillment process,” he emphasized.

On this basis, the petitioners request that the Constitutional Court allow for an open and transparent examination of the veracity of the educational qualifications.

Petitioners Claim Information on Gibran's Educational Shortcomings is Concealed

Denny Indrayana revealed that information regarding Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s failure to meet the educational qualifications for the vice-presidential candidacy in the 2024 presidential election has been concealed.

“The information regarding Gibran’s educational qualifications has been withheld and not provided, even until now,” Denny stated.

Denny noted that they only recently learned that Gibran’s qualifications at the high school level do not meet the requirements for a vice-presidential candidate.

He explained that in PHPU Case Number 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026, they had previously questioned Gibran's educational qualifications in the general court, the State Administrative Court (PTUN), the Central Information Commission (KIP), and even sent letters to the DPR.

The former Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights expressed that these efforts resulted in no clarity, leaving the MK as the last hope.

“In this case, the Court is the last hope, court of last resort. So that we do not face a process of justice that is denied, denial of justice,” he stated.

KPU Claims Gibran Meets Educational Requirements

Responding to the petitioners’ arguments, the General Election Commission (KPU) emphasized that Gibran Rakabuming Raka has met the educational qualifications as a vice-presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election.

“The qualification documents submitted by Gibran Rakabuming Raka as a vice-presidential candidate have been verified by the Respondent and deemed sufficient,” said the attorney.

The KPU received and verified the qualification documents for the candidate pair Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka on October 28, 2023.

Concerning Gibran, they clarified Article 1 paragraph (7) of the Minister of Education and Culture Regulation No. 29 of 2014, which states that an equivalency certificate is a document that certifies that the diploma/certificate obtained by the learner from abroad is equivalent to that of a domestic diploma.