A group of activists and public figures associated with the DIY National Forum removed a photograph of the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, which had been displayed in the Budget Committee (Banggar) room at the DIY Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) office in the city of Yogyakarta.

progresifjaya.co.id, YOGYAKARTA – A group of activists and public figures affiliated with the DIY National Forum (Forum Kebangsaan DIY) removed a portrait of the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, which was displayed in the Budget Committee (Banggar) room at the DIY Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) office in Yogyakarta City on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

Among the figures present during the removal were the former Deputy Mayor of Yogyakarta, Syukri Fadholi, who serves as a patron, and Muhammad Chirzin, who acts as an advisor to the DIY National Forum.

The Vice President’s portrait was taken down shortly after the group entered the Budget Committee room, read a formal statement, and held an audience with members of the DIY DPRD. Once the proceedings concluded, the portrait was put back in its place.

Muhammad Chirzin stated, that the visit by the DIY National Forum—alongside various segments of society—to the DIY DPRD was intended to voice public concerns regarding the state of the nation. They hope that these aspirations will be conveyed to President Prabowo Subianto so that they may be addressed promptly.

He explained, that their demands center on two issues: first, the authenticity of the diploma belonging to the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), which they claim has yet to be proven; and second, the high school-equivalent diploma of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, which they allege is not recognized by the state.

“In this forum, we are raising two demands: first, regarding Jokowi’s diploma—which has not been located, or rather, we are awaiting the upcoming hearing—though it is nearly certain that no authentic diploma exists,” said Chirzin.

“The second issue concerns Gibran’s high school-equivalent diploma. Therefore, our demand is to impeach Gibran and put Jokowi on trial,” he added.

Regarding the removal of Gibran’s portrait from the DIY DPRD Budget Committee room, Chirzin noted that the action was taken spontaneously by members of the DIY National Forum delegation. Furthermore, Chirzin noted that the removal of the photograph carries a symbolic message linked to the demand for Gibran’s impeachment. He also warned the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) not to disregard the aspirations voiced by the public.

“The removal of Gibran’s photograph from the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD DIY) chamber conveys a clear message, Gibran must step down—there is no other option. In my brief remarks during the forum, i stated that if the DPR RI fails to take appropriate action—given that Gibran’s high school-equivalent diploma is nowhere to be found—then, I repeat, if the DPR does not impeach Gibran, it will have betrayed the mandate of the people,” he asserted.

The Diploma Controversy

The controversy surrounding the authenticity of the diploma of Indonesia’s 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), has persisted, eventually drawing in his eldest son, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The issue regarding Jokowi’s diploma stems from allegations by certain parties questioning the authenticity of his bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Forestry at Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

UGM has confirmed that Jokowi’s diploma is genuine. Jokowi himself has denied the allegations, stating that he is prepared to present the original document should a judge request it during legal proceedings.

The controversy has since extended to Gibran’s educational background, he utilized a certificate of educational equivalence—attesting to a high school-level education obtained abroad—to satisfy the requirements for his candidacy as vice president in the 2024 presidential election.

On October 6, 2026, the Constitutional Court (MK) stated that it found no convincing evidence that Gibran possessed any foreign diploma, certificate, or credential equivalent to a high school education.

However, the Court didn’t grant the plaintiff’s petition, citing issues regarding their legal standing. Most recently, the Supreme Court (MA) granted a cassation appeal filed by HM Subhan Palal on Friday, October 30, 2026.

The Court declared that the certificate of high school education equivalency belonging to Gibran—which had been submitted as a requirement for his 2024 presidential election candidacy—is invalid.

This ruling has prompted calls from various parties for the House of Representatives (DPR) to address the matter, with some even proposing the impeachment of Gibran from his position as Vice President. Conversely, others argue that the Supreme Court’s decision does not automatically affect the legitimacy of Gibran’s status as Vice President. (Bembo)