Jokowi’s diploma polemic, from controversy to digital history records

FAJAR.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Polemic about the authenticity of a diploma former President Jokowi from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) reached a new chapter with this controversy on the Wikipedia page.

Not just a momentary conversation, the issue that has been rolling since 2022 is now officially listed in the “Jokowi Controversy” section, confirmed it as part of the narrative of the history of national leadership.

This controversy began when a writer named Bambang Tri Mulyono sued the validity of Jokowi’s diploma at the Central Jakarta District Court in October 2022.

Although the lawsuit was rejected because it was considered unfounded by the law, the embers continued to light up.

In April 2023, the court sentenced six years in prison to Bambang and Gus Nur because it was proven to have spread false news related to the diploma through social media.

The second wave of controversy appeared in early 2025, triggered by Roy Suryo and Rismon Sianipar who again questioned the authenticity of the document.

They accuse the existence of technical irregularities in diplomas, including the use of fonts that are considered not in accordance with the 1980s.

This accusation triggered riots when they came to the UGM campus to demand clarification on April 15, 2025.

Gadjah Mada University itself has given an official explanation that Jokowi’s diploma and thesis are authentic.

They emphasized that differences in the physical format of diplomas occurred because at that time the administrative process was still carried out manually before the computerized era.

This statement was strengthened by the results of the Bareskrim Police forensic investigation on May 22, 2025 which confirmed the authenticity of diploma through analysis of paper materials, ink, and printed techniques.