Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will lead the People’s Action Party (PAP) in the next general election, taking over the reins from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong ahead of the polls.
PM Lee said at the party’s biennial convention on Sunday: “Lawrence has told me that he is ready... I have full confidence in Lawrence and his team and there is no reason to delay the political transition... if all goes well, I will hand over by PAP’s 70th birthday next year.”
The party was set up on Nov 21, 1954. The next general election (GE) has to be held by November 2025.
PM Lee noted that the ministers had already chosen DPM Wong to be their leader, a choice endorsed by the PAP MPs. The major decision that was left to make was when the handover should take place, before or after the next GE.
Handing over to DPM Wong before the GE would mean he would be the one leading the party in the campaign, and would win his own mandate and take the country forward with the full backing of the nation, said PM Lee.
“Leadership transition for any country is always tricky. Many things can go awry. Both Singaporeans and people outside Singapore, near and far, are watching very closely. Everything depends on the success of this third transition in our history,” he added.
PM Lee acknowledged that DPM Wong and the 4G team have been serving for many years now, and have taken on greater responsibilities. They are preparing well to take the helm and have earned their spurs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Increasingly, they are setting the national agenda, such as through the Forward Singapore exercise, he said. “Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM Lawrence before the next GE.”
The Straits Times
