Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (Photo: Time).
Speaking at the Annual Conference of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) on November 5, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he would transfer power to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong before the next general election, which is due in November 2025.
"Mr Lawrence told me he is ready. I have full confidence in Mr Lawrence and his team, so there is no reason to delay the political transition," the Singapore leader said.
Mr Lee, 71, said he was unable to hand over power before his 70th birthday as planned due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "If everything goes well, I will hand over power before the 70th anniversary of the PAP next year. The PAP was founded on November 21, 1954.
Mr Lee stressed that cabinet ministers had backed Mr Wong to become the country’s next leader. The key decision remaining to be made is whether to hand over power before or after the next general election.
If Mr Lawrence Wong were to hand over power before the general election, it would mean he would lead the fourth generation of leaders (4G) into the next election campaign and secure the voter mandate for himself and the 4G leadership.
For his part, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he is ready to take on any task assigned by the new prime minister and he feels he can contribute.
"I will do my best to support him and his team to win the next general election and fulfill their obligations," Mr. Lee stressed.
Mr. Lee Hsien Loong is the eldest son of the late Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. He has been Prime Minister since 2004 and is also the leader of the PAP party.
Last year, Mr Lee Hsien Loong announced that Finance Minister Wong, 50, would be his successor. Mr Wong was later appointed Deputy Prime Minister.
Prior to that, Mr. Wong held important positions such as Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Deputy Minister for Finance, Minister for National Development and Minister for Education of Singapore. In addition, he was the Private Secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong from 2005 to 2008.
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