Antara, Jakarta – Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said any effort to impeach Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka following a Constitutional Court (MK) ruling on his educational qualifications must follow the democratic and constitutional mechanisms in place.
"People should follow the available democratic mechanisms that are in line with the Constitution and existing laws," Jokowi said in Solo on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Jokowi was responding to the possibility of an impeachment bid against Gibran after the Constitutional Court issued Decision No. 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026 concerning a dispute over the results of the 2024 presidential and vice presidential election.
Jokowi said he respected the Constitutional Court's decision, including the legal considerations set out by the judges.
"We respect the Constitutional Court's decision and all the stages involved, including the legal considerations provided by the court," he said.
Jokowi on Gibran's education
Jokowi said education systems and levels vary from one country to another.
"In our system, the stages start from elementary school, junior high school, high school, and then a bachelor's degree, or there are also diploma programs. Other countries have their own systems. Some have elementary and junior high school, followed by secondary school and university, while others have pathway programs before diploma and bachelor's programs," he said.
Jokowi said Gibran had completed a bachelor's degree, arguing that his son must therefore have completed the earlier stages of education.
"If someone completes a bachelor's degree, they should have gone through the previous stages. Otherwise, they would not be able to enroll in a bachelor's program," he said.
Constitutional Court ruling
In its legal considerations, the Constitutional Court said it had not found convincing evidence that Gibran possessed a diploma, certificate, or degree from an overseas educational institution that could be recognized as equivalent to at least a high school education, as required under Indonesia's election law.
However, the court said it could not remove or disqualify Gibran from his position as vice president.
The court found that the matter could no longer appropriately be resolved through the legal framework governing disputes over presidential election results because Gibran had already been inaugurated and sworn in as vice president on October 20, 2024.
In its ruling, the court declared the petition inadmissible because the petitioners lacked legal standing to file a presidential election results dispute.
Asked whether the court's considerations could affect Gibran's potential candidacy in the 2029 presidential election, Jokowi deferred the matter to the relevant authorities.
He said the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) have authority under the applicable mechanisms and regulations.
Jokowi also declined to comment at length on the possibility of President Prabowo Subianto and Gibran running together again in the 2029 presidential election, saying the election is still several years away.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2121161/jokowi-says-vp-gibran-impeachment-bid-must-follow-constitutio