Singapore swears in Lawrence Wong, its first new Prime Minister in two decades.

SINGAPORE: The affluent city-state of Singapore saw a carefully planned transition of power culminate today with the sworn-in of Lawrence Wong, its first new premier in 20 years and only its fourth leader since independence. Wong, 51, is one of a new breed of politicians known as “4G” leaders, chosen specifically by the People’s Action Party (PAP), which has been in power for a long time to take control of the important Asian trade and financial hub. The first prominent Singaporean born after the country’s independence in 1965 is him. As finance minister, Wong will continue in this role while leading a nation that was run for twenty years by Lee Hsien Loong, the 72-year-old son of Lee Kuan Yew, the man who founded modern-day Singapore and remained in politics until his death in 2015.

The pandemic upset Lee’s plans to stand down before turning 70, and his chosen successor abruptly withdrew from consideration in 2021, making the succession process a lengthy time coming.

Wong has promised to give the people of Singapore and its 5.9 million residents “every ounce of my energy” and to govern “with humility and a deep sense of duty.”

As co-chair of the pandemic taskforce, Wong gained notoriety in 2020. Following a round of meetings with peers and the political leadership, Wong was named Lee’s replacement in April 2022.

After being elevated to the position of deputy prime minister, he oversaw a well-known public consultation process aimed at establishing a “social compact” between the populace and the government over matters such as employment, inequality, and sustainability.

Continuity and stability

On Monday, Wong made a relatively little change to the cabinet, elevating the trade minister to the position of deputy and stating that stability and continuity were important factors. A larger shake-up is promised following an election that is scheduled for early next year.

As previous prime ministers of Singapore have done, Lee will continue to serve as a senior minister in Wong’s cabinet, maintaining the political influence of the long-serving Lee family.

After resigning as prime minister in 1990, his father continued to serve in the administrations of his son’s successors for 21 years, first as a senior minister and later as a “minister mentor.”

During his farewell speech on May 1, Lee called on supporters of Wong to unite and highlighted that long-term planning had been made possible by Singapore’s stable political environment.

An emotional Lee said, “I feel a sense of satisfaction and completeness,” to the assembly.

Wong is taking over at a difficult time, according to opposition leader Pritam Singh, with a volatile and uncertain external environment and major generational changes occurring at home.

“The Workers’ Party will continue to play our legislative role to advance the interests of Singapore and Singaporeans under Prime Minister Wong’s leadership,” Singh declared. – Reuters