Singapore’s deputy leader Lawrence Wong is set to be sworn in as the nation’s fourth Prime Minister today. Fifty-one-old US-trained economist Mr Wong will succeed 72-year-old Lee Hsien Loong, who stepped down after two decades at the helm. Lee’s resignation marked the end of a family dynasty led by his father Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s charismatic first leader who built the colonial trading outpost into a business-friendly, affluent country during 31 years in office.
Wong, a civil servant turned politician, came to prominence while coordinating the successful fight against COVID-19 in the tiny nation of some six million people.Lee will stay on as a senior minister, a path taken by all former premiers.
Since becoming an independent nation in 1965, Singapore has only had three Prime Ministers – all from the ruling People’s Action Party.