Gibran Oh Gibran, When Time No Longer Stands By

TIME flies like an arrow. Such is the case these days as the issue surrounding the high school equivalent diploma of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka is drawing the attention of members of the People's Consultative Assembly (DPR), leading to a potential impeachment process against him.

Both PKS and PDI Perjuangan are taking aggressive steps, shifting from collecting inquiries to directly proposing a right to express opinions (HMP).

On the first day, about 50 DPR members from six factions supported this proposal. The following day, support for the HMP surged to over 120 DPR members.

All factions within the DPR are backing the proposal. If indeed all members of PDIP and the National Democrat sign the HMP, the total proposals would exceed 250 individuals. PDI Perjuangan holds 110 seats while Nasdem has 69.

The spike in supporters for the right to express opinions cannot be separated from Gibran's maneuver to meet with President Prabowo Subianto on the morning of November 10, 2026.

From this meeting emerged Gibran's intention to resign. However, it was also reported that Gibran expressed a desire for the chance to prove the validity of his high school equivalent diploma in the Administrative Court.

In fact, Gibran claimed that the president advised him to fight in the Administrative Court.

His declaration to fight in the Administrative Court has only spurred political parties to be more aggressive in rallying supporters for the right to express opinions within the DPR.

This has cornered Gibran—who lacks direct support within the DPR. His intention to validate his diploma in the Administrative Court feels futile; it will not change the situation, rendering the effort pointless.

There were supposed to be two stages discussing Gibran's high school equivalent diploma on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

First, the Jakarta Administrative Court would continue the lawsuit filed by PT Mercy Toga Kirana against the Director General of Secondary Education and Special Education, under case number 255/G/2026/PTUN.JKT.

Second, the proposal for the right to express opinions would be brought to the DPR's Plenary Meeting on Thursday, November 12, 2026. This meeting would decide the fate of the HMP.

The meeting discussing the HMP would require the attendance of 2/3 of DPR members or 387 individuals, with a decision needing to be supported by at least 2/3 of the present members.

However, both agendas risk interruption by information that Gibran has submitted his resignation letter as Vice President to President Prabowo on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Several media outlets cited statements from Projo Chairman Budi Arie Setiadi.

Kompas.id (11/11/2026) reported that Gibran was expected to submit his resignation letter to the MPR on Thursday at 10:00 AM WIB.

According to Kompas.id, the DPR Plenary Meeting discussing the right to express opinions will be postponed to Thursday at 2:00 PM WIB.

This situation could lead to two possible outcomes. First, Gibran may resign through the MPR, halting the right to propose opinions that initiated his impeachment.

Second, the impeachment process against Gibran may proceed. The DPR will expedite the process starting from the right to express opinions, deciding the vice president must be dismissed and sending a letter to the Constitutional Court for approval.

The resignation of a national leader brings to mind Soeharto. He stepped down as president on May 21, 1998, citing Article 8 of the 1945 Constitution.

As a result, Vice President BJ Habibie ascended to the presidency. However, Habibie served without a vice president from May 1998 until October 1999.

Article 8 of the 1945 Constitution that Soeharto used to resign has since been amended. Paragraph 1 states, "If the President dies, resigns, is dismissed, or cannot perform his duties during his term, he shall be replaced by the Vice President until the end of his term."

This paragraph only regulates 'if the president resigns' and does not include 'if the vice president resigns' during their term, as in Gibran's case.

The question is, if 'vice president' is not mentioned in that paragraph, can the MPR directly refer to Paragraph 8, paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution?

Paragraph 2 states, "In case of vacancy of the Vice President, no later than sixty days, the MPR shall hold a session to elect a Vice President from two candidates proposed by the President."

Gibran's high school equivalent diploma case reminds this nation that values of honesty and integrity must be upheld.

In Gibran's case, he was not an ordinary citizen when he registered for the Solo mayoral election in 2020. Nor was he when he registered for the presidential and vice presidential election in 2024. Gibran is the eldest son of Joko Widodo, who is none other than the President of Indonesia for the period 2014-2024.

The child of a president should set an example. The certificate of high school equivalency issued for Gibran, the issuance of Article 18, paragraph 3 of KPU Regulation 19/2023, and the alteration of the minimum age requirement for Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates by the MK in 2023 remind us that Gibran's path to the 2024 presidential election is fraught with challenges.

The ethical scandal in the MK is even referred to as a black mark in the history of elections in our country.

The reputation of the MK at that time plummeted. The MK was accused of being 'the Court for Nephews' since Anwar Usman (Gibran's uncle) was leading the MK. As a result, some critical parties (legal experts and the media) referred to Gibran as the 'illegitimate child' of the constitution.

Joko Widodo, the president at that time, did not heed the criticisms and suggestions from some who elected him in 2014. Instead of rejecting Gibran's candidacy as vice president, Jokowi moved forward.

The eldest son was perceived to be entering the 2024 political arena without the necessary experience, maturity, and leadership skills.

Two years after winning the 2024 presidential election, Gibran Rakabuming Raka stumbled. In early October 2026, the MK declared it found no convincing evidence showing Gibran possessed diplomas or certificates from abroad that could be used as a basis for being equated with at least a high school education.

The decision of the Supreme Court at the end of October 2026 further complicated Gibran's situation. Rulings from the two highest courts deemed Gibran "no longer meets the requirements to be vice president." Thus, grounds for impeachment against Gibran were only a matter of time.

Gibran could not afford to buy time due to the unfavorable political situation following the discovery of illegal wiretapping against President Prabowo by General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and colleagues. Like a house of cards, Gibran's defenses slowly weakened and eventually collapsed.

Listyo is the former National Police Chief who was appointed by Jokowi in 2021. When the illegal wiretapping scandal came to light, Gibran's political position—as Jokowi's extension—was increasingly impacted. The alliance with Prabowo drastically changed—if it did not end altogether.

In the poem "Night Watch Soldier", Chairil Anwar wrote the following stanza: "Time goes on. I do not know what fate time holds?"

When accepting Prabowo's offer in 2023, Gibran and Jokowi may not have foreseen what would transpire in 2026.

Chairil was right. Time moves forward, and no politician can control destiny.