The PDI-P's Consistency Test in the Gibran Case

CRITICISM The comments by the Chairman of the DPP PSI, Bestari Barus, towards PDI-P may seem like a typical counterattack, but they raise an undeniable question.

The party now urging Gibran Rakabuming Raka to step down and initiate an inquiry is the same party that supported him during the 2020 Solo mayoral election.

If Gibran's educational credentials are questionable, Bestari asks, why didn't PDI-P notice this earlier?

The question is valid, yet it cuts both ways. PSI's defense inadvertently validates the core issue.

Bestari argues it is strange for Gibran, who studied abroad, to only possess a high school diploma, linking it to the fate of diaspora children. This argument is off-base.

Diplomat's children returning to Indonesia receive equivalency based on proof of graduation.

In Gibran's case, the evaluation team from the ministry acknowledged that documents from UTS Insearch were merely attendance certificates, transcripts, and proof of registration (Kompas.com, 4/10/2026). The problem is not where he studied but the absence of proof of completion.

Thus, this matter becomes a test of consistency. The first test is for PDI-P, but ultimately it applies to all parties: who will bring this issue to parliament for institutional correction, and who will merely use it as ammo heading into 2029?

Between Mistakes and Ammunition

PDI-P has previously admitted to being mistaken. Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto stated that the party regretted nominating Gibran as mayor (Kompas.com, 31/3/2024).

However, this mistake has been interpreted as a matter of loyalty rather than an issue of credentials. Yet, the requirement of a minimum education level of high school also applies in local elections.

If PDI-P is serious, the inquiry proposed by Deddy Sitorus should not stop at the KPU 2023. They should also be brave enough to investigate how the party and the organizers verified the same documents in 2020.

Without self-audit, the inquiry will be seen as retaliation rather than rectification.

PSI's criticism also deserves a fair hearing. PDI-P's firmness only surfaced once its relationship with the Jokowi family soured.

As long as Gibran remained a cadre, the issue of his educational documents never raised concern within the party.

The timing of a stance does not negate the truth of the highlighted facts. However, the timing does determine whether the public perceives it as a constitutional call or a political disappointment.