JAKARTA, thekabarnews.com—Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka said he respected the Constitutional Court’s decision in a case challenging his educational eligibility. Gibran would continue focusing on the government programs of President Prabowo Subianto.

Speaking on Wednesday, Oct. 7, Gibran gave his first public response. This came after the court declared the petition concerning his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election inadmissible.

“We respect every stage and process at the MK [Constitutional Court],” Gibran said, as quoted by Antara. “The most important thing now is that I will remain focused on working for the public and supporting the president’s vision, mission and programs.”

The court did not remove or disqualify Gibran from office. However, its legal reasoning stated that the evidence submitted during the proceedings did not contain a convincing foreign diploma, certificate or equivalent document. In particular, there was no document proving completion of senior secondary education.

Responding to questions about his educational history, Gibran said he had continued to university after completing education equivalent to senior high school.

“If I hadn’t graduated from high school, I couldn’t have attended university,” he said. “I also completed my bachelor’s studies in Singapore.”

Gibran promised to address questions concerning the diploma, certificate or foreign qualification. These were used to support the official equivalency letter issued in 2019.

“We will follow that up immediately,” he said, without explaining which documents he planned to release or submit.

A bachelor’s degree and proof of completing senior secondary education are separate documents. Therefore, Gibran’s university attendance alone does not satisfy the court’s specific finding. The finding concerns the documents that support his high-school equivalency letter.

The court declared case No. 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026 inadmissible because the petitioners lacked legal standing to bring a presidential election-results dispute.

Its decision did not rule that Gibran forged a document or completed secondary education. The court said only that it did not find convincing proof of a qualifying foreign diploma in the evidence presented.

The supporting materials included a certificate of attendance, academic records and an explanation of grades. Justice Arsul Sani said the attendance certificate did not establish graduation.

“The certificate of attendance and other documents used to issue Letter No. 9149/D.D1/KS/2019 does not explain the successful completion of a particular educational level,” Arsul said. “They only record attendance in the learning process.”

Justice Adies Kadir said the court could not cancel or disqualify Gibran as vice president. Gibran’s status as a candidate ended when he took office on Oct. 20, 2024, making the case unsuitable for resolving his present status through the election-results procedure.

Several demonstrators outside the court expressed disappointment over the outcome. They focused on the contrast between the evidentiary finding and the court’s decision not to disqualify Gibran.

Honorary teacher and Indonesian Education and Teachers Association member Reza Sudrajat also compared the controversy with the verification teachers undergo. This process verifies teachers so they can receive professional allowances.

“To receive the Teacher Professional Allowance, teachers must at least hold a bachelor’s degree and complete a professional program,” Reza wrote on X. He claimed teachers faced 11 verification stages. The goal was to receive an allowance of less than Rp2 million after deductions.

His comments constituted a personal public criticism, not an official finding about all teachers’ payments or verification procedures.

Under Law No. 7/1978, the vice president receives a basic salary equal to four times the highest basic salary for other state officials. Meanwhile, applying Government Regulation No. 75/2000 produces a monthly basic salary of Rp20.16 million.

A Rp22 million position allowance brings the fixed monthly total to Rp42.16 million. This excludes official housing, transportation, healthcare and other state-funded facilities.

Gibran’s legal position remains unchanged after the ruling. His promised follow-up will determine whether additional documents clarify the evidentiary issue identified by the court.