SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday (Nov 5) that he will hand over leadership to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong before the next General Election, which has to be called by November 2025.
Shedding more light on his leadership transition plans, Mr Lee – who is secretary-general of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) – added that “if all goes well”, he will do so by the PAP’s 70th birthday on Nov 21 next year.
Mr Lee was addressing more than 1,000 party members at the annual PAP awards and convention held at the Singapore Expo, following speeches by Mr Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and several new PAP faces.
Mr Wong was endorsed as the leader of the party’s fourth-generation, or 4G, team last year after the 62-year-old Mr Heng stepped aside so that a younger leader with a “longer runway” could take over.
Mr Lee previously said he hoped to step down before his 70th birthday, which was in February 2022. However, the plan was disrupted by the pandemic.
During this year’s National Day Rally, he said his succession plans are back on track with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that recent controversies involving ministers and Members of Parliament will not delay the timetable for political renewal. He did not give a timeline then.
On Sunday, Mr Lee reiterated to PAP members that the next GE will coincide with the party’s leadership transition to the 4G team.
He noted that with Mr Wong's endorsement as leader of the 4G team, there remains only one major decision to make: Should the handover take place before or after the next GE?
"Either I can continue to lead the party in the next GE, which would be my fifth as PM, and then hand over soon afterwards to Lawrence; or I can hand over to Lawrence before the GE, then he leads the party into the campaign, wins his own mandate, and takes the country forward with the full backing of the nation," added Mr Lee.
He stressed that leadership transition for any country “is always tricky” and “many things can go awry”, with Singaporeans and people outside Singapore watching this development closely.
“Everything depends on the success of this third transition in our history,” Mr Lee said.
“I have thought this over carefully, discussed it thoroughly with DPM Lawrence and the ministers, both 3G and 4G.
“Lawrence and the 4G team have been serving for many years now. They have taken on greater responsibilities, and are preparing well to take the helm. They earned their spurs during COVID-19 and increasingly, they are setting the national agenda.”
Mr Lee also made reference to the Forward SG exercise, led by Mr Wong and other 4G political leaders, which culminated in a report released last week laying out a roadmap for a new way forward for the nation.
Mr Lee added that Mr Wong and the 4G team have “committed themselves to much hard work and many major initiatives”, while actively bringing in people to further strengthen the team.
"Lawrence has told me that he is ready, and this morning you have heard him telling you that he is ready for his next assignment. I have full confidence in Lawrence and his team and here is no reason to delay the political transition.
“Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM Lawrence before the next GE,” said Mr Lee.
“After that, I will be at Lawrence’s disposal. I will go wherever he thinks I can be useful.
Mr Lee noted that he turned 71 this year and did not manage to pass on the baton by his 70th birthday as he hoped to do.
"So if all goes well, I will hand over by the PAP’s 70th birthday next year – it’s not my birthday, but I will borrow it for this purpose."
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Shedding more light on his leadership transition plans, Mr Lee – who is secretary-general of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) – added that “if all goes well”, he will do so by the PAP’s 70th birthday on Nov 21 next year.
Mr Lee was addressing more than 1,000 party members at the annual PAP awards and convention held at the Singapore Expo, following speeches by Mr Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and several new PAP faces.
Mr Wong was endorsed as the leader of the party’s fourth-generation, or 4G, team last year after the 62-year-old Mr Heng stepped aside so that a younger leader with a “longer runway” could take over.
Mr Lee previously said he hoped to step down before his 70th birthday, which was in February 2022. However, the plan was disrupted by the pandemic.
During this year’s National Day Rally, he said his succession plans are back on track with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that recent controversies involving ministers and Members of Parliament will not delay the timetable for political renewal. He did not give a timeline then.
Related:
On Sunday, Mr Lee reiterated to PAP members that the next GE will coincide with the party’s leadership transition to the 4G team.
He noted that with Mr Wong's endorsement as leader of the 4G team, there remains only one major decision to make: Should the handover take place before or after the next GE?
"Either I can continue to lead the party in the next GE, which would be my fifth as PM, and then hand over soon afterwards to Lawrence; or I can hand over to Lawrence before the GE, then he leads the party into the campaign, wins his own mandate, and takes the country forward with the full backing of the nation," added Mr Lee.
He stressed that leadership transition for any country “is always tricky” and “many things can go awry”, with Singaporeans and people outside Singapore watching this development closely.
“Everything depends on the success of this third transition in our history,” Mr Lee said.
“I have thought this over carefully, discussed it thoroughly with DPM Lawrence and the ministers, both 3G and 4G.
“Lawrence and the 4G team have been serving for many years now. They have taken on greater responsibilities, and are preparing well to take the helm. They earned their spurs during COVID-19 and increasingly, they are setting the national agenda.”
Mr Lee also made reference to the Forward SG exercise, led by Mr Wong and other 4G political leaders, which culminated in a report released last week laying out a roadmap for a new way forward for the nation.
Mr Lee added that Mr Wong and the 4G team have “committed themselves to much hard work and many major initiatives”, while actively bringing in people to further strengthen the team.
"Lawrence has told me that he is ready, and this morning you have heard him telling you that he is ready for his next assignment. I have full confidence in Lawrence and his team and here is no reason to delay the political transition.
“Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM Lawrence before the next GE,” said Mr Lee.
“After that, I will be at Lawrence’s disposal. I will go wherever he thinks I can be useful.
Mr Lee noted that he turned 71 this year and did not manage to pass on the baton by his 70th birthday as he hoped to do.
"So if all goes well, I will hand over by the PAP’s 70th birthday next year – it’s not my birthday, but I will borrow it for this purpose."
Related:
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