In 1998, when Indonesian strongman Suharto was forced to step down by a wave of street protests, few would have predicted that Megawati Sukarnoputri, one of the leaders of the reform movement, would 11 years later seek power in a coalition with former senior members of that same regime.
But a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, and the trajectory of this 'reluctant' politician has been such that analysts believe that the seemingly unlikely coalition is actually logical.
Tommi Legowo, an activist from the Forum of Citizens Concerned about the Indonesian Legislature said: 'sadly, in politics, there are no friends or enemies but only interests. And this trio have the common goal of beating [President Susilo Bambang] Yudhoyono.'
Besides former president Ms Megawati, the trio is made up of Wiranto, the leader of the Hanura party, and Prabowo Subianto, who heads Gerindra.
During the last days of the Suharto regime, while Ms Megawati was calling for democratic reforms, Wiranto was the head of the military, which kept Suharto in power, while Prabowo, Suharto's son-in-law, was the head of the special forces unit. Both politicians' military careers have been tarnished by accusations of human rights abuses and reciprocal animosity. Wiranto still faces criminal charges.
The three are now likely to join forces in an attempt to thwart Dr Susilo re-election bid in the July presidential vote. Ms Megawati is expected to be the opposing presidential candidate, while the two former generals are still jostling for a position.
