Partying Together, Washing Dishes Alone

TODAY, November 12, 2026, Gibran Rakabuming Raka officially resigns as Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia after submitting a letter to President Prabowo Subianto and the People's Consultative Assembly.

Previously, the equivalency certificate equivalent to high school/vocational school issued by the Directorate General of Basic and Secondary Education was challenged in the Administrative Court and ultimately reached the Supreme Court.

This certificate was used by Gibran when he registered as a vice presidential candidate during the 2024 presidential election.

At the first level in the Administrative Court and the appellate level in the High Administrative Court as judex facti, the panel of judges ruled in favor of the defendant, in this case, the Directorate General of Basic and Secondary Education.

However, at the cassation level in the Supreme Court, the plaintiff was favored by the cassation judges as judex juris.

The cassation decision by the Supreme Court no longer allows for a legal review (PK) by Gibran because Gibran did not have legal standing as an intervening defendant.

Only the defendant, namely the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, could file a PK. However, no PK will be submitted.

This clearly indicates that the political nuance is very dominant. How could a minister under the President, who is also the Vice President, not fight for the validity of documents related to the Vice President, continuously opposing the plaintiff using legal measures like PK?

Moreover, it is regrettable that Gibran, as a party related to the lawsuit, was not presented as an intervening defendant.

Gibran has been judged unilaterally by the court without being asked to appear, let alone testify before the law. Gibran was not given the opportunity by the court to present evidence.

The same applies in the hearing of the election results dispute (PHPU) filed by Denny Indrayana to the Constitutional Court (MK).

The MK decided to reject Denny Indrayana and others' petition as it was outdated for trial as a PHPU case under the Election Law.

However, strangely, the MK panel created a legal consideration narrative stating that it did not find any diploma or document equivalent to the high school/vocational school diploma that Gibran possessed, even though Gibran was never called by the MK.

Gibran was judged without being given the space to defend himself, both in the Supreme Court and the MK.

It is clear that the decisions of the Supreme Court and the MK are politically nuanced. Moreover, after the decision, coalition parties demanded Gibran's resignation.

Today, Gibran resigns as Vice President, creating a political precedent that is not worth teaching to the younger generation: political agreements can be easily betrayed by those who made them.

Prabowo Subianto and the coalition parties that asked Gibran to be the vice presidential candidate back then, during the 2024 elections. They jointly worked to ensure that all requirements were met by the presidential and vice presidential candidates, Prabowo and Gibran, including the controversial MK ruling regarding the age of presidential/vice presidential candidates.

Nomination documents were submitted together to the General Elections Commission (KPU). However, now that the party is over, Gibran is asked to wash the dishes alone.

Bad examples arise when togetherness only applies as long as it’s profitable.

When Gibran's support and his family's political influence were needed, the doors of coalition were wide open. However, when problems arose, the shared responsibility seemed to turn into Gibran's personal matter.

Prabowo and the coalition parties cannot position themselves as parties detached from the nomination decision. They were involved in determining, fighting for, and enjoying the outcomes.

Morally, they must also be willing to acknowledge and bear some responsibility for that shared choice.

Respecting judicial decisions is mandatory. However, the absence of a PK effort by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education conveys a strong political nuance that pressures Gibran. After all, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education is a subordinate of the Vice President.

The responsible statesmanship should be collectively exercised, by both Prabowo Subianto and the parties supporting Prabowo-Gibran, and not make Gibran’s resignation a way to wash their hands clean.

The younger generation is witnessing how leaders treat agreements without political ethics.

If someone is only embraced when it is advantageous, then abandoned when it becomes a burden, then politics teaches that loyalty can be exchanged for individual safety.

Gibran may leave his position. However, Prabowo's and the coalition's moral responsibility does not end with the resignation letter as Vice President.

Those who celebrated together should also be willing to clean up the same feast.