Megawati Sukarnoputri
The highest position Megawati Sukaroputri has occupied was president of the Republic of Indonesia from July 23, 2001, until Oct. 20, 2004.
She was preceded by Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and replaced by her former minister, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. She joined the presidential election in 2009, pairing with Prabowo Subianto, but Yudhoyono – who teamed up with Boediono – proved too popular with voters.
Despite the fact that she will be 67 years old in 2014, Megawati is still interested in returning to the palace even against the will of her husband Taufik Kiemas – chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) – who said that she would be too old to run and that it was time for the younger generation to lead the nation.
The second-most popular figure in her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) today is Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, who could be a potential presidential candidate. But many analysts have said that the next in line for Megawati's political dynasty might be her daughter, Puan Maharani. But many say Puan is too young and inexperienced.
Megawati will most likely join the race in 2014 since she still tops opinion polls to date. As a former president, Megawati is experienced. But her chances will depend on PDI-P's ability to win 20 percent of votes in the legislative election.
Prabowo Subianto
A former general whose popularity is rising surprisingly fast these days despite his supposed track record for human rights violations, Prabowo Subianto has in recent months topped opinion polls as the most favored national leader to replace the current president due to his perceived decisiveness and strong character.
He will turn 63 by the time he joins the next presidential election in 2014, though Prabowo has all the ingredients for becoming a powerful magnet to attract people from all walks of life. He was the chief of the Strategic Reserve Command before being dismissed by a military panel of senior generals, including Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, over a breach of the military code of conduct during the events of 1998.
While most polls have placed Prabowo as a front-runner for 2014, many noted that he could end up failing to qualify by not garnering enough support as his Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) is too small to support him.
Several months ago, Prabowo was nixed as Megawati Sukarnoputri's possible choice to represent the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the presidential election. The PDI-P and Gerindra successfully joined forces in supporting Joko Widodo and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama as Jakarta's top officials in September. But many said Prabowo erred in glorifying his role in the Jakarta governor race and damaged his chances of being selected by Megawati.
Aburizal Bakrie
As chairman of the formerly-in-power Golkar Party – which is also one of the top three factions in the House of Representatives today – Aburizal Bakrie is campaigning to become the next president through his media.
The clearest insight into his ambition to lead the nation emerged in December 2011 when Paul Wolfowitz, the former US ambassador to Jakarta, asked him during a USINDO meeting in Washington DC if he were ready to run for office.
Quite timidly, Aburizal said that he had yet to receive a green light from his wife and children. But on July 1, 2012, Aburizal became the first political party leader to announce his candidacy for the 2014 presidential election.
Surprisingly, the chairman of Golkar's own advisory board, Akbar Tandjung, blocked him several times through remarks to the mass media, saying that if Aburizal's popularity declined, Golkar would need to have second thoughts They reconciled afterward, and the two television stations he owns have run exclusive political ads to boost his popularity. However, he has yet to break the top three in any opinion polls thus far.
Aburizal is an experienced leader who was once the coordinating minister for people's welfare. However, not being Javanese-born and allegations one of his companies caused the mudflow that swept thousands of people from their homes have hurt his chances.
Mahfud M.D.
He is the chairman of the Constitutional Court (MK) and considered a potential candidate for the 2014 election. His closest political vehicle is the National Awakening Party (PKB) which, prior to his current position, pushed him into the position of minister of defense after representing the party as a lawmaker for several years
By the end of March, Mahfud M.D.'s term in office at the MK will expire, so he will no longer occupy a high-ranking state position. He said he wants to go back to Gadjah Mada University to teach. Would this boost his chances for presidency, or is it an elegant excuse?
He won't be very young when the next presidential election takes place. By July 2014, Mahfud will be 63 years old. In terms of credibility, he is known as a fair and honest judge who has led the MK with a good reputation for integrity.
His institution has canceled about 60 laws because they were against the provisions of the 1945 Constitution. In recent months, Mahfud has appeared on television talk shows and public-service ads to promote a law-abiding culture in Indonesia.
Earlier this year, many thought Mahfud would be recruited as a presidential or vice presidential candidate representing the ruling Democratic Party. But his recent statement that the palace had been infiltrated by a drug mafia might have derailed that dream.
Jusuf Kalla
Jusuf Kalla is a former vice president who used to be recognized as "the real president." He teamed up with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the 2004 presidential election after serving as a minister under Megawati Sukarnoputri, whom they defeated.
Kalla is also former chairman of the Golkar Party. He was preceded in the position by Akbar Tandjung and replaced by Aburizal Bakrie – his possible rival in the 2014 election.
Kalla is still yet to officially reveal the parties that will give him a ticket for the presidential race. Many believe he remains one of the strongest candidates given his charm, experience and high level of acceptability. He is often dubbed "the peacemaker" due to his successful handling of the horizontal conflicts in Aceh and Poso, Central Sulawesi.
A nimble-minded pragmatic leader, Kalla is well known as a "fast decision maker" because he is always ready with practical solutions. In the 2009 presidential race he teamed up with Wiranto but lost to Yudhoyono.
At 71 years old, age could be an obstacle for this popular figure, if indeed the majority of voters in the next election – which comprise members of the younger generation – seek a national leader closer to their age.
But even if he does not make it, Kalla will still be recognized as a wise leader full of fresh, practical ideas to solve Indonesia's problems.
Dahlan Iskan
Popularity-wise, Dahlan Iskan is well known across the country as a down-to-earth leader who does not care for protocol. He often breaks many state stipulations – from the way he dresses to the way he maneuvers as state enterprises minister.
As the owner of Jawa Pos Group, which comprises 130 publications that include newspapers, tabloids, magazines and television, Dahlan does not need any more promotion.
He was reportedly influential in boosting Yudhoyono's popularity during the past election and was called upon to join the cabinet after becoming head of state-owned electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara. Dahlan is also a former journalist who still actively writes in his many publications.
Despite being so popular and an idol for many young people, Dahlan still does not have a political vehicle that could take him to the presidential race in 2014, when he will be 63 years old.
His humility has often been misunderstood as an overt expression of eccentric behavior. He once opened a toll gate to allow for free passage because ticket operators were not in place when he passed by. In another occasion, Dahlan joined the cleaning service boys at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to clean a toilet that was too dirty. Does Indonesia need this kind of president? Time will answer.
Pramono Edhie Wibowo
The four star general, who currently serves as the Army's Chief of Staff, is the younger brother of first lady Ani Yudhoyono. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ruled out the possibility of his wife and sons running in 2014, but he didn't say anything about his brother-in-law.
Several of Yudhoyono's aides have said that the only logical candidate to represent the president's family and his party is Pramono.
While many people across Indonesia are reluctant about having a Javanese military general as president, several experts have agreed that Pramono has a chance to come out as a winner in the upcoming presidential election.
They claim that while elites in urban areas may be reluctant to support a military man like Pramono, grassroots voters, especially across Java's villages, see him as a perfect candidate. "He will have a chance if Yudhoyono launches a massive campaign to support him," said Fachry Ali, an expert at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).
However, as a quiet and low-profile figure, Pramono has yet to comment on his candidacy. Meanwhile, many are still wondering what he has achieved aside from being a member of the country's first family and climbing up the military ranks over the years.
Pramono will be 59 years old in June 2014 and, according to polls, can't compete with heavyweights like Megawati Sukarnoputri.
Hatta Rajasa
As the current coordinating minister for the economy, Hatta Rajasa occupies one of most strategic posts on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's cabinet, as he is practically the chief economic policy maker in the country.
His powerful post, coupled with a marriage between his daughter Siti Ruby Aliya Rajasa and Yudhoyono's second son, Edhie "Ibas" Baskoro, makes him one of the most trusted of the president's men.
He was the state secretary and transportation minister under Yudhoyono, and research and technology minister under former President Megawati Sukarnoputri. He is also the chairman of National Mandate Party (PAN), a moderate Islamic party that obtained around 7 percent of the votes in the 2009 legislative election.
With all those ingredients, Hatta, who will be 61 by the 2014 election, should not have any trouble getting Yudhoyono's endorsement. However, Yudhoyono may be reluctant to throw his support behind his in-law as Hatta failed to fare well against other candidates in many recent polls.
Hatta is from Palembang, South Sumatra, and doesn't enjoy built-in support of Javanese voters, who make up about 60 percent of the electorate. With his profile, Hatta could be better off as a vice presidential candidate.