[2] Following the 30 September Movement event General Suharto assumed presidential powers to "restore" law and order which led to anti-communist purge.

By February 1967, President Sukarno realized that his political career was at an end and he became concerned at cutting his losses.

On 7 February, he sent a letter to Suharto saying that he was willing to hand over the running of the government to the General but also added that he would like to continue on as head of state.

[3] On 20 February 1967, Sukarno chose to relinquish all executive power to Suharto whilst still retaining his position as president.

He was officially elected by the MPRS on 27 March 1968 to a full five-year term, becoming the second president of Indonesia.