Former Indonesian President Suharto is still in a critical condition at a Jakarta hospital, after doctors announced slight improvements in the past hours. According to a press conference held Monday morning, the doctors are surprised by his responses to stimulus, but are not very optimistic about his recovery. In the best case scenario, surviving his crisis would most definitely mean suffering permanent infirmity.

Yesterday Suharto’s doctors were given an official consent by the former President’s family to take him off life support systems if that should be the case. But according to his doctors, Suharto has a strong will to live and the doctors will do everything in their power to save him, despite the 50-50 chance of survival.

Mardjo Soebiandono, the head of Suharto’s medical team, said in the press conference on Monday: “The general condition this morning is improving. His breathing is still assisted and heart functions have also shown some improvement. […] Suharto’s will to survive is very strong. This may be because he’s a former soldier.”

The former President has been admitted to Jakarta Pertamina Hospital on January 4. On January 11 he suffered an organ failure and had to be put on a ventilator. The team of medics has been on high alert ever since despite the slight signs of improvements, as his condition could degenerate at any moment.

Suharto, born June 8, 1921, was the President of Indonesia for 32 years, from 1967 to 1998. He established the New Order Regime, managing to receive diplomatic and economic support from several Western Governments due to his anti-Communist beliefs. But the last 8 years turned him from the man who brought economic growth and industrialization to the authoritative man who supported corruption and whose outside diplomatic support had been withdrawn. He was forced to resign in May 1998, after three decades of indisputable authority.