KPU, Bawaslu Reported to Ethics Council over Gibran Rules
Kabarsaji.com – TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Themis Indonesia, alongside the Dewi Keadilan Indonesia Foundation, reported commissioners of the General Elections Commission (KPU) and Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) to the Ethics Council of Election Organizers (DKPP) on Friday, October 9, 2026. The complaint stems from alleged code of ethics and conduct violations during the drafting of KPU Regulation Number 19 of 2023, which governs presidential and vice-presidential candidacy requirements for the 2024 election.Themis Indonesia attorney Ibnu Syamsu Hidayat stated that issuing the regulation breached ethics because it contained clauses never presented during public testing and hearings conducted by election organizers. "Yet during the harmonization process, it suddenly appeared," Ibnu said after filing the report at the DKPP office in Jakarta on Friday, October 9, 2026.The Disputed Diploma ClauseThe disputed clause refers to Article 18, Paragraph (3) of KPU Regulation Number 19 of 2023.
The provision states that the requirement for high school or equivalent diplomas is waived for presidential and vice-presidential candidates who graduated from overseas schools and hold higher education degrees.This clause emerged as one of the points of debate during Constitutional Court hearings on presidential election result disputes. The petitioners, including former Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Denny Indrayana, questioned the validity of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s educational credentials. They contend that the academic qualifications submitted by Gibran during the 2024 presidential race were invalid.During court proceedings, former KPU Chair Hasyim Asy’ari claimed that Article 18, Paragraph (3) of the regulation stemmed from recommendations and repeated consultations with the Ministry of Education and Culture.
However, the ministry explicitly refuted Hasyim's claim during a hearing on October 2, 2026.Gogot Suharwoto, Director General of Early Childhood, Basic, and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, stated that his office never recommended the provisions outlined in Article 18, Paragraph (3).Allegations of Oversight NegligenceIbnu requested that the DKPP investigate the KPU and Bawaslu to at least provide a thorough explanation regarding the origins of the contested regulation. "These issues demand clarity, and we ask for honesty from election organizers," Ibnu said.Themis Indonesia attorney Luthfi Nabilah Ailen also highlighted the lack of direct verification conducted by the KPU regarding Gibran's educational equivalency documents. He noted that the KPU claimed it had not received any official complaints regarding candidacy requirements.
"Thus, the absence of a report became the KPU's pretext for not investigating further," Luthfi said.In the same complaint, Themis Indonesia also cited Bawaslu for negligence in oversight during the 2024 presidential election. Attorney Laily stated that the emergence of undisclosed clauses resulted from Bawaslu's failure to supervise and prevent administrative irregularities."They hold statutory duties and supervisory functions to actively monitor and curb administrative malpractice during elections," he stated.Ibnu noted that the complaint named all KPU and Bawaslu commissioners involved in the 2024 presidential candidacy process. Themis is urging the DKPP to impose permanent dismissal sanctions against them.Responses from Election OrganizersKPU Chair Mochammad Afifuddin has not responded to inquiries regarding the civil society complaint.
However, KPU Commissioner Idham Holik stated that the commission respects the filing. "As with previous reports filed with the DKPP, we certainly respect this procedure," Idham said when contacted on Friday, October 9, 2026.Bawaslu Chair Rahmat Bagja welcomed public reports to the DKPP concerning his agency's performance in supervising the issuance of KPU Regulation Number 19 of 2023. "Like other complaints to the DKPP previously, we surely respect this," Bagja stated when contacted on Friday, October 9, 2026.DKPP Chair Heddy Lugito has not responded to questions regarding follow-up actions on public complaints submitted to the council.
However, in previous statements, Heddy noted that the DKPP can only act on alleged ethics violations by election organizers if public complaints are submitted. This requirement is mandated under Article 159 of the Election Law."We must be neutral, passive, and refrain from exploiting emerging cases for personal popularity," he stated on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.Read: How Likely Is VP Gibran's Impeachment? Golkar Politician ExplainsClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is KPU Bawaslu Reported to Ethics Council?KPU Bawaslu Reported to Ethics Council is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does KPU Bawaslu Reported to Ethics Council matter?KPU Bawaslu Reported to Ethics Council matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.