Singapore is set to have a new Prime Minister on May 15, as Mr Lawrence Wong officially takes over the reins from Mr Lee Hsien Loong.
The handover date was announced by the Prime Minister’s Office in a press statement on Monday (Apr 15).
THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY PMO :
“Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will relinquish his office on 15 May 2024. He will formally advise the President to appoint Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong to succeed him. DPM Wong has the unanimous support of the PAP MPs”.
“The new Prime Minister will be sworn in at 8.00 pm on 15 May 2024 at the Istana”.
Mr Wong, who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, was named as the leader of the ruling People’s Action Party’s (PAP) fourth-generation (4G) team two years ago, putting him in line to become the next Prime Minister.
GIVE FULL SUPPORT :
In a Facebook post on Apr. 15, PM Lee urged Singaporeans to “give Lawrence and his team full support, and work with them to create a brighter future for Singapore”.
“For any country, a leadership transition is a significant moment. Lawrence and the 4G team have worked hard to gain the people’s trust, notably during the pandemic. Through the Forward Singapore exercise, they have worked with many Singaporeans to refresh our social compact and develop the national agenda for a new generation”.
“The 4G team are committed to keeping Singapore working well and moving ahead. These will always be top priorities for the government”, PM Lee added.
Soon after the announcement DPM Lawrence Wong posted a video on Instagram saying “I am honoured to be asked to undertake this new responsibility as the Prime Minister of Singapore”.
“I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty. I pledge to give you my all in this undertaking”.
“Together, we can build a future that shines brightly for all Singaporeans”, he added in his social media post.
The 51-year-old will be sworn in at 8.00 pm on May 15 at the Istana.
The timing of the handover was first suggested late last year, with Mr Lee stating that he would step down before the next General Election, which must be called by November 2025.
The transition was initially planned to coincide with the PAP’s 70th birthday on Nov 21 this year, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Wong will be Singapore’s fourth Prime Minister, following in the footsteps of Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Mr Goh Chok Tong, and Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
Mr Goh was 49 when he became Prime Minister, while Mr Lee Kuan Yew was just 35 when he took office. The upcoming leadership handover marks an important milestone in Singapore’s political history, and will see Mr Wong leading the nation into a new era of governance.
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