Jakarta – Renowned politician Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, the daughter of founding father Sukarno, passed away on Saturday after being treated for Covid-19 for a week at a Jakarta hospital. She is 70 years old.

Rachmawati was admitted to Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital on June 26 with severe symptoms of Covid-19, colleagues told local media. The Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) politician passed away at around 6:15 a.m.

"Indonesia has just lost one of its best women, Madame Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, the daughter of our first president, Sukarno," top Gerindra politician Sandiaga Uno wrote on his social media accounts.

"We will never forget your tireless struggle," added Sandiaga, who currently serves as tourism minister in the President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo cabinet.

Rachmawati is the younger sister of former President Megawati Soekarnoputri but the two have found themselves in opposing political spectrums in recent years.

Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has nominated eventual winner Jokowi in the last two presidential elections, while Rachmawati was a staunch supporter of sole rival Prabowo Subianto, chairman of Gerindra.

President Jokowi has eased rivalries by appointing Prabowo as defense minister and also recruiting running mate Sandiaga to the cabinet.

The PDI-P said Megawati was deeply saddened by the news and offered condolence to a son of Rachmawati.

"Megawati Soekarnoputri and her family express their grief for the passing of Rachmawati Soekarnoputri," PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto said in a statement.

"Rachmawati is her younger sister and they both have grown up together at the State Palace, learned to dance together," Hasto said.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/rachmawati-daughter-of-sukarno-dies-from-covid1