Monday, August 15th, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that no decision has been made on when he will succeed Lee Hsien Loong as Singapore's next Prime Minister, although it might happen before the next General Election.
Mr. Wong was speaking during an interview with John Micklethwait, editor-in-chief of Bloomberg News, who inquired if the succession might occur prior to the election, which must be conducted no later than November 2025.
Mr. Wong stated that if he became Prime Minister prior to that date, he will "definitely" lead the People's Action Party (PAP) and its fourth-generation (4G) team through Election Day.
"Or, PM (Lee Hsien Loong) might stay as PM and lead the PAP in the polls, and if the PAP wins, I will succeed him as PM after the elections. These are the choices, but a decision has not yet been made on the time "added Mr. Wong, who is also the Minister of Finance.
At a press conference on April 16, following the announcement of Mr. Wong as the chairman of the PAP's 4G team, Mr. Lee stated that the choice about who will lead the party in the upcoming election will be made "later."
The Prime Minister stated at the time that the PAP must choose the "optimal approach," whether he hands over power to Mr. Wong before or after the election, assuming the party wins.
Mr. Wong stated on Monday that the PAP went through a "very rigorous and methodical procedure" for succession planning, but that COVID-19 disrupted such preparations.
"Then we had to get back together, and we wanted a procedure that would allow us to pick a leader while bolstering the Cabinet's feeling of teamwork," he explained.
"My colleagues have selected me as the candidate to lead the team. I am honored by their selection, and we are currently in the process of determining the precise date when I will succeed Prime Minister Lee."
Mr. Wong stated that his current goals include organizing the 4G team and determining how it would address immediate needs, in addition to settling into his new duties and portfolio.
"Eventually, we will reach a conclusion on this crucial topic," he added.
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