Megawati Soekarnoputri adheres very much to her own unique character — confident, quiet (critics have often said “too quiet”), aristocratic — and she has her own style that often did not fit the rough and tumble of politics. She has always done it her way.

As a former President, Megawati Soekarnoputri can recall bittersweet memory. “I mainly felt I had a responsibility, and I had the power to get things done. I had clear ideas on which directions to go. The things that happened are well documented. But I am most proud of being able to implement the first direct presidential elections in 2004 which were carried out peacefully. It was something I safeguarded until the new government was sworn in, on 20 October 2004. Personally, I did not feel it a burden to lose the election. I was actually cheered and delighted that a woman in Indonesia had succeeded in reaching the top job.

“I thought back and it was a pleasant change to be there after the years as a political activist when I was chased by the Indonesian government, called in by the police and being interrogated by the Attorney-General with no legal reason, but that was politics.