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Megawati
Sukarnaputri
Enormous
popular support following persecution by the Suharto regime saw
the leader of the Indonesia Party of Struggle (PDI-P) touted as
Indonesia's first female president.
Despite her party gaining a third of the seats in the 1999 elections,
the eldest daughter of Indonesia's revered first President Sukarno,
had to accept the Vice Presidency after an alliance of Muslim parties
opposed to a woman getting Indonesia's top job nominated Abdurrahman
Wahid for the position.
Despite criticisms of both her ability to control factions within
her party, and the strong influence of her husband Taufig Kiemas,
Megawati is the only option for president if Wahid is impeached.
She has increasingly distanced herself from her former political
ally and refused to negotiate any compromise deals with Wahid's
camp.
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