On May 15, Singapore’s PM Lee will retire, and Deputy PM Wong will take over

As part of a long-planned leadership transition, Singapore’s prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, announced on Monday that he would leave office on May 15 after almost 20 years in office. His deputy, Lawrence Wong, will take over as prime minister.

Owing to the COVID-19 epidemic and an unforeseen snag in the succession preparations, Lee is relinquishing his position later than planned.

On August 12, 2004, 72-year-old Lee took office as Singapore’s third prime minister.

Lee said that a change in leadership is an important event for any nation in a Facebook post.

“I said in November of last year that I would be leaving my position as prime minister this year. On May 15, 2024, I will step down as prime minister, and DPM (Deputy Prime Minister) Lawrence Wong will take over as leader of the government the same day.

A change of leadership is a momentous occasion for any nation. forth particular during the epidemic, Lawrence and the fourth generation team (4G) have put forth a lot of effort to win over the public’s confidence.

They have collaborated with several Singaporeans via the Forward Singapore initiative to modernize our social contract and create the national agenda for a new generation,” he said.

“The 4G team is dedicated to maintaining Singapore’s current state of operation and progress. The government will always place a high priority on these. In order to help Lawrence and his team build a better future for Singapore, I kindly encourage all Singaporeans to support them wholeheartedly,” Lee said.

After Heng Swee Keat, Singapore’s deputy prime minister, was predicted to succeed him in 2018, the People’s Action Party (PAP), which rules the country, seemed to be beginning to plan its political succession.

However, Heng, who was sixty years old at the time, withdrew from consideration for the top position in April 2021, claiming age as the cause.

Since the city-state’s independence, PAP has been in power.

Following a year of discussions, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong was declared the heir, and he was soon designated Deputy Prime Minister.

After Lee resigns, the 51-year-old will become prime minister.

According to a Channel News Asia article, Lee said in 2012 that he would not want to serve as prime minister above the age of 70. That announcement was made 12 years ago.

The first Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, was born in 1952, and as a student, he excelled in mathematics.

In 1974, he obtained his first-class honors diploma in mathematics as a Senior Wrangler in the Mathematics Tripos.

He also had a distinction-level certificate in computer science.

Lee was named Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Defense not long after he was elected to the House of Commons.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, he served as both the Second Minister for Defense and the Minister for Trade and Industry.