Head, PDI-P
Megawati Soekarnoputri served as the fifth president of Indonesia (2001-2004). She was the first female in history to have held the position and the sixth woman to lead a Muslim-majority country. She is the eldest daughter of the first president Sukarno, who declared the independence of Indonesia from the Netherlands in 1945.
Soekarnoputri entered politics in 1987, joining the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI-P), which she eventually headed in 1993. Her father's well-loved legacy made her a natural favourite, and she was admired by many for her anti-corruption values. However, this was perceived as a threat by then-president Suharto, who manipulated her removal from the Democratic Party in 1996, sparking violent riots from Soekarnoputri’s supporters and causing clashes with the government.
Suharto stepped down in 1998, and Megawati Soekarnoputri was appointed vice-president to Abdurrahman Wahid before being eventually sworn in to replace Wahid in 2001. She has received many national honours for her work, including the Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna, the highest class of awards given to those who have exceptionally maintained and contributed to the country.
Did You Know?
Megawati’s last name, Soekarnoputri, means the "daughter of Sukarno", as Javanese people often do not have family names. Her first name is derived from Sanskrit and means “cloud goddess”.