ABSTRACT
In the political euphoria following Suharto’s downfall and in the advent of the fi rst democratic elections held since 1955, it was Megawati Sukarnoputri who emerged on the national scene as the most eligible candidate for presidency. Megawati played a pivotal role in the struggle for democratic reform. As the daughter of the much-respected fi rst president of the republic, the late Sukarno, she obtained a revolutionary status. Her party, the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDIP), was the most visible in opposing Suharto’s authoritarian regime, contributing strongly to Megawati’s popularity throughout the country. Illustrated by the salience of the party’s red colors and the multiple images of Megawati decorating Indonesia’s public landscapes, this unprecedented appeal from the “masses” took up proportional heights in the advent of the presidential election in 1999, and resurfaced in 2004 when she ran for reelection.
