Lawrence Wong is set to take the helm as Singapore’s new Prime Minister, commencing his duties from May 15th.
Following an announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) of the Republic, Wong is set to succeed Lee Hsien Loong, who has held the position since 2004.
The PMO statement confirmed that Lee will step down from the role of Prime Minister on May 15, 2024. It also noted that Wong has garnered unanimous support from Members of Parliament of the People’s Action Party (PAP).
The swearing-in ceremony for Wong will be held at the Istana on May 15th, with proceedings scheduled to commence around 8 p.m. Additionally, the PMO disclosed that Lee has formally advised the President to appoint a new Deputy Prime Minister and to designate a replacement for Wong as the Minister of Finance.
Expressing his gratitude and commitment, Wong took to Facebook to acknowledge the honor of assuming the role of Prime Minister. “I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty,” he said.
“I pledge to do my best for you in this endeavor. Together, we can build a brighter future for all Singaporeans.”
At 51 years of age, Wong currently holds the positions of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
He was appointed as the leader of the fourth-generation (4G) PAP team two years ago, positioning him as the next in line for the role of Prime Minister.
Wong is slated to become Singapore’s fourth Prime Minister, following in the footsteps of Lee, Goh Chok Tong (1990), and Lee Kuan Yew (1959).
