Singapore to hold presidential election on September 1 if multiple candidates qualify

Former PAP minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, ex-state fund investment chief Ng Kok Song and business executive George Goh are among those eyeing the largely ceremonial role

Tharman passes all criteria to run, but whether Ng and Goh make the cut will be determined by a government-appointed committee in the coming weeks

Reading Time:3 minutes

Published: 3:13pm, 11 Aug 2023Updated: 6:17pm, 22 Aug 2023

Singapore on Friday said it would hold a presidential election on September 1 if more than one candidate is nominated to run for the largely ceremonial role, with four people having already thrown their hats in the ring.

Interested candidates must apply for a certificate of eligibility and meet other requirements before Nomination Day on August 22.

In recent weeks, the ruling People’s Action Party’s (PAP) former minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam; state investor GIC’s former chief investment officer Ng Kok Song; and business executive George Goh have declared they would run. Tan Kin Lian, among the losers in 2011’s four-way presidential election, on Friday also indicated his interest in contesting the polls.

Political parties are barred from endorsing candidates, although all presidents in the republic since 1993 – when the non-partisan position became an elected post – have had considerable links to the ruling establishment.

In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged citizens to “vote wisely”, noting that the president “represents all Singaporeans, and stands as a symbol of our unity and aspirations”.

The poll is being held at an awkward moment for the PAP, which has been reeling from scandals related to an extramarital affair between two members, and a high-profile corruption investigation of a sitting minister.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x