{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1054750,
        "msgid": "first-ladys-seat-to-remain-vacant-1447893297",
        "date": "1996-05-24 00:00:00",
        "title": "First Lady's seat to remain vacant",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "First Lady's seat to remain vacant JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has decided that the position of first lady will not be filled by any of his daughters, after it became vacant following last month's death of Mrs. Tien Soeharto, Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono said yesterday. \"The President truly appreciates the various views and suggestions made by members of the public about the position of the first lady. But he has made up his mind,\" Moerdiono said.",
        "content": "<p>First Lady's seat to remain vacant<\/p>\n<p>JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has decided that the position<br>\nof first lady will not be filled by any of his daughters, after<br>\nit became vacant following last month's death of Mrs. Tien<br>\nSoeharto, Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono said yesterday.<\/p>\n<p>\"The President truly appreciates the various views and<br>\nsuggestions made by members of the public about the position of<br>\nthe first lady. But he has made up his mind,\" Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n<p>Many politicians and several organizations have suggested that<br>\nSiti Hardiyanti Rukmana, the President's eldest daughter, be<br>\nelevated to become the Ibu Negara (State Mother), the Indonesian<br>\nphrase for first lady, to accompany the head of state at various<br>\nstate occasions. They argued that Mbak Tutut, as she is popularly<br>\nknown, has already proven herself as a capable statesperson<br>\nthrough her various charitable activities.<\/p>\n<p>When receiving state guests or when making foreign visits, the<br>\nPresident should ideally be accompanied by someone, so their<br>\nargument goes. With the passing of Mrs. Tien, that position<br>\nshould be filled in by one of his daughters.<\/p>\n<p>Moerdiono pointed out that in terms of state protocol, which<br>\nregulates where the wives of senior government officials stand or<br>\nsit at state functions, the position of the first lady could only<br>\nbe filled in by the wife of the President.<\/p>\n<p>However, this does not preclude the possibility of one of his<br>\ndaughters accompanying him at state functions, including during<br>\nvisits out of town or abroad, Moerdiono said. \"But their presence<br>\nwill be strictly as the President's offspring.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"I don't think anyone could fill the position of the first<br>\nlady. I think this decision is right. We all want to cherish our<br>\nmemories of Ibu (Mrs.) Tien.\"<\/p>\n<p>Mrs. Tien, who died on April 28 in Jakarta at the age of 72,<br>\nwas popular for her various charitable works and for her<br>\npatronage of the nation's art and cultural world. (emb)<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/first-ladys-seat-to-remain-vacant-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}