Prime Minister of Singapore announces succession to take place before the 2025 election
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong declared on Sunday that he would pass the reins to a younger generation of leaders before the 2025 general elections.
Lee, who is 71 years old, originally planned to step down by 2022, before his 70th birthday, and transfer leadership to his deputy, Lawrence Wong. However, this plan was postponed due to Lee's commitment to guiding Singapore through the challenges of the coronavirus crisis.
In a speech delivered to members of his People's Action Party (PAP) on Sunday, Lee expressed his confidence in Wong and his team, stating that they had proven their abilities during the pandemic. He emphasized that there was no justification for delaying the political transition.
Lee explained in a report from Agence France Presse (AFP), "Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM Lawrence before the next general election. After that, I will be at the new PM's disposal. I will go wherever he thinks I can be useful. I will do my best to assist him and his team in their efforts to succeed in the next GE."
Lee, who has held the position of prime minister since 2004, did not specify the exact timing of his handover to the 50-year-old Lawrence Wong, who currently serves as the finance minister. He did, however, suggest that if all goes well, the transition could take place by the PAP's 70th anniversary next year, which falls in November 2024.
If Wong assumes leadership, it will mark only the second time since Singapore's independence in 1965 that the prime minister is not a member of the Lee family. Lee Hsien Loong's father, Lee Kuan Yew, served as the country's first prime minister.
In an emotional address to party members, Lee expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve his country for his entire adult life, referring to it as his "great fortune and honor."
He acknowledged the transformation of the party over the years, shaped by numerous challenges, but emphasized its unwavering dedication to Singapore and the island's safety and security, assuring that these commitments would continue under the next generation of leaders.
The ruling party has faced a series of rare scandals recently, which have affected the government's reputation for integrity. These scandals included a corruption investigation involving the transport minister and the resignation of two ruling party legislators over an extramarital affair.
