Constitutional Court hears dispute over Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s education

The Constitutional Court (MK) has resumed hearings regarding the 2024 presidential election dispute, specifically focusing on the educational qualifications of Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The case, filed by 12 petitioners including former Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Denny Indrayana, challenges whether Gibran met the mandatory educational requirements stipulated in the Election Law.

Legal counsel Bambang Widjojanto argued that educational requirements are imperative and must be valid at the time of registration. The petitioners are questioning the legitimacy of a 2019 education equivalency certificate issued by the Ministry of Education, alleging it was processed in less than 24 hours without transparent documentation.

Denny Indrayana asserted that the Constitutional Court has the authority to disqualify Gibran through this election dispute mechanism rather than impeachment. He argued that the legal challenge is not merely about the existence of a diploma, but whether the candidate met the minimum requirement of high school equivalency. Indrayana also addressed potential procedural arguments regarding filing deadlines, citing previous legal precedents where the court ruled on substantive eligibility despite time constraints.