Singapore’s PM Lee Hsien Loong will hand over power to deputy Lawrence Wong ‘before next general election’
- Lee and Wong said the ruling People’s Action Party would be ‘refreshed’ by its 70th anniversary next year and ready to ‘win the confidence’ of voters
- Announcing the handover at a party convention, an emotional Lee said the challenge for the PAP was to ensure Singapore continued to be well-governed and ‘stand out’ globally
Speaking at a party convention on Sunday, both referred to one marker of the much-talked about handover: the PAP’s 70th anniversary on November 21 next year.
Wong said by then, the PAP would be renewed and refreshed to be a party for everyone, not just its supporters.
“We aim to be ready by the PAP’s 70th anniversary next year,” he said. “We can look forward to a refreshed PAP ready to fight the next election and to win the confidence and trust of all Singaporeans.”
A tearful Lee, who said it had been his “great fortune and honour” to have served his country for “all of my adult life”, added: “If all goes well, I will hand over by the PAP’s 70th birthday next year.”
Wong, 50, was last year voted by his fourth-generation (4G) peers in the PAP to take over from Lee, in what will be only the third leadership succession in Singapore since independence in 1965.