Election Law Challenged Again in Constitutional Court, Request to Remove High School Diploma Requirement for Presidential Candidates

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Law No. 7 of 2017 on General Elections (Election Law) has once again been challenged in the Constitutional Court (MK) with a request to eliminate the requirement of formal education or a high school diploma (SMA) or equivalent for presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

The petitioner argues that holding a formal diploma does not automatically indicate a person's leadership abilities, integrity, or competence in government.

"Making a high school diploma or equivalent a mandatory requirement for presidential and vice-presidential nominations is an overly administrative approach to assessing someone's capacity to hold a public office," stated the request registered at the Constitutional Court on Thursday (12/11/2026).

The petitioner also believes that the education requirement outlined in Article 169 letter r of the Election Law is seen as limiting the constitutional rights of citizens to have equal opportunities under the law and in governance.

Furthermore, the petitioner views that this provision is likely to trigger prolonged political debates regarding the validity of diplomas, which could disrupt national stability.

"The electoral legal system should not place administrative issues related to formal education as a source of political contention that can distract from the focus on governance," the petition continued.

The petitioner compares Indonesia's constitutional practices with other democracies, such as the United States, France, and India, which do not impose formal diploma requirements for their presidential candidates.

"Formal education requirements are not the only approach that democracies can use to determine someone's eligibility to become President or Vice President," the petitioner stated.

This material testing lawsuit is registered under case number 423/PUU-XXIV/2026 in the Constitutional Court.

The application was filed by Jovi Andrea Bachtiar as the petitioner, represented by legal counsel Sinta Dwi Apriliyanti and Buce Abraham Beruat.

In the prayer, the petitioner requests the panel of judges at the Constitutional Court to grant the entire request and declare Article 169 letter r of Law No. 7 of 2017 on General Elections to be contrary to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and without binding legal power.