First Spouses of Indonesia


Throughout Indonesian history, the title of First Lady or, in an instance, First Gentleman has been used to refer to the wife or husband of the president of Indonesia. While the Constitution of Indonesia does not mention anything about the spouses of the president, it continues to hold significant influence in the Indonesian society.
The current holder of the title is Iriana Joko Widodo, wife of current president Joko Widodo. Taufiq Kiemas, husband of President Megawati Sukarnoputri, to date is the only First Gentleman.

History

It is unclear when the role of Ibu Negara first developed in the Indonesian constitutional conventions. Sukarno, the first president, was married to his third wife Fatmawati when he became president on August 1945. Sukarno then married Hartini on July 1953 on Fatmawati's permission. Hartini lived in Istana Bogor and also accompanied the president to official state duties and visit abroad. Throughout his presidency, Sukarno married another five women, but Fatmawati remained the first lady.
Siti Hartinah, Soeharto's wife, occupied the role of Ibu Negara until her death on April 1996. Her eldest daughter, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana acted on behalf of her mother throughout the remaining of her father's presidency until 1998. From March to May 1998, she also served as the minister of social affairs.

Living former first spouses

Excluding Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, there is currently one living former first spouse of Indonesia :

List of title holders


No.

PortraitNameTenureAge at tenure startPresident
1Fatmawati
5 February 192314 May 1980
18 August 1945

12 March 1967
Sukarno
2Siti Hartinah
23 August 1923 – 28 April 1996
12 March 1967

28 April 1996
Suharto
-Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana
b. 23 January 1949
28 April 1996

21 May 1998
Suharto
daughter
3Hasri Ainun Besari
11 August 193722 May 2010
21 May 1998

20 October 1999
Bacharuddin J. Habibie
4Sinta Nuriyah
b. 8 March 1948
20 October 1999

23 July 2001
Abdurrahman Wahid
5Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas
31 December 1942 – 8 June 2013
23 July 2001

20 October 2004
Megawati Sukarnoputri
6Kristiani Herrawati
6 July 1952 – 1 June 2019
20 October 2004

20 October 2014
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
7Iriana
b. 1 October 1963
20 October 2014

present
Joko Widodo