The office of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on Monday (Apr. 15) that he would relinquish his post on May 15 and nominate Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
According to a statement released by Lee's office, Lee, 72, would formally advise the city-state's president, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, to appoint Wong, the country's finance minister, to succeed him.
Wong, who has the unanimous support of lawmakers in the long-ruling People's Action Party (PAP), would also be sworn in on the same day.
Who is Lee Hsien Loong?
According to Mediacorp, Lee, the eldest son of Singapore's founding prime minister, Lee Kwan Yew, has long considered stepping down from his role before age 70 since 2012.
Prior to politics, Lee aspired to become a mathematician in his student days but eventually entered military service. A highlight was his involvement in rescuing 13 cable car passengers in 1983 after the cableway to Sentosa Island snapped. He was then a colonel.
Lee achieved the rank of brigadier general at the age of 32 and was eventually convinced by then-Defense Minister Goh Chok Tong to enter politics, which he did in 1984.
As MP, Lee was quickly assigned junior cabinet roles in the trade and defense portfolios. When Goh became prime minister in 1990, Lee became his deputy, earmarking him for the top job.
However, in 1992, Lee and another deputy prime minister, Ong Teng Cheong, were both diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system - putting the succession to Goh at risk.
Lee recovered from his cancer in 1993.
When Goh eventually stepped down in 2004, PAP MPs unanimously voted Lee its party leader and prime minister.
In 1978, Lee married Dr. Wong Ming Yang but died at the age of 31 in 1982, leaving behind two young children. He later married Ho Ching in 1985, and they have two sons together.
In a post announcing his resignation on X, formerly Twitter, Lee urged Singaporeans to support Wong as he steps down exactly a month from now.
I will relinquish my role as PM on 15 May 2024 & @LawrenceWongST will be sworn in as the next PM on the same day. I ask all Singaporeans to give Lawrence & his team your full support, & work with them to create a brighter future for Singapore. – LHL https://t.co/3oi0Oxxv16 pic.twitter.com/gDrMiiUTN1
— leehsienloong (@leehsienloong) April 15, 2024
"I ask all Singaporeans to give Lawrence and his team your full support, and work with them to create a brighter future for Singapore," he said.
Wong as SG's New PM
Meanwhile, Wong, 51, entered politics in 2011. He was eventually named finance minister by Lee and as his successor in 2021 after Heng Swee Keat stood down as deputy prime minister, citing his age and the lack of a proper "runway" for the top job.
In a video statement on YouTube, he admitted that he never thought of succeeding Lee.
"I am honored to be asked to undertake this new responsibility as the Prime Minister of Singapore," he said. "I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty. I pledge to give you my all in this undertaking."
I am honoured to be asked to undertake this new responsibility as the Prime Minister of Singapore.
— Lawrence Wong (@LawrenceWongST) April 15, 2024
I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty. I pledge to give you my all in this undertaking. https://t.co/Qh83pDhIBV
