SINGAPORE – Singapore’s finance minister, Lawrence Wong, shall be promoted to deputy prime minister on June 13, in accordance with an official assertion launched on Monday, taking a step nearer to changing into the chief of the city-state.
Wong would be the fourth prime minister to guide the monetary hub since its independence in 1965, although the timing of the handover from present Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is as but undecided.
Following are some key info about Wong:
PANDEMICPERFORMANCE
Wong, 49, was catapulted into the political highlight as co-head of the federal government’s COVID-19 process pressure.
He has principally gained reward for his dealing with of the virus. Below his management, Singapore imposed strict lockdowns, border curbs and contact-tracing, which saved deaths and infections to a minimal, particularly early on within the pandemic. However after attaining one of many world’s highest vaccination charges, many questioned the sluggish tempo at which the town eased restrictions.
Singapore dropped practically all pandemic restrictions in April this yr.
Wong broke down in tears throughout a speech in parliament in 2020 as he thanked healthcare employees and others for his or her efforts through the pandemic, a uncommon present of emotion among the many city-state’s leaders.
CAREERCIVILSERVANT
As a civil servant, Wong labored in a number of ministries and served as Prime Minister Lee’s principal non-public secretary from 2005 to 2008.
He beforehand led the schooling and nationwide improvement ministries, and have become finance minister final yr. He delivered his first price range this yr, aimed toward steering the nation right into a post-pandemic period and addressing wealth inequality.
Wong is a member of the board of GIC, the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, and can be the deputy chairman of the Financial Authority of Singapore.
He studied economics on the College of Wisconsin–Madison, and likewise attended the College of Michigan-Ann Arbor and the Harvard Kennedy College of Authorities.
Wong will solely be the nation’s second prime minister from outdoors the Lee household. The present prime minister’s father Lee Kuan Yew was the nation founding father and first chief.
CHALLENGES
In addition to the speedy problem of recovering from a pandemic and going through financial dangers from the struggle in Ukraine, Wong seems to be set to inherit quite a lot of long-term structural coverage points.
He must guarantee Singapore retains its attractiveness as a enterprise hub regardless of international tax reforms and pressures to reverse globalisation. Singapore may even must navigate shifting geopolitics, together with its relationship with China and the US.
Singapore, an oil refining hub, can be attempting to transition in direction of a greener financial system and address a quickly ageing inhabitants.
The ruling Folks’s Motion Celebration (PAP) secured 83 of 93 parliamentary seats within the 2020 election, however its share of the favored vote dropped close to a document low, whereas the opposition gained an unprecedented 10 seats.
“With the ruling get together’s lackluster efficiency… Wong and Lee will possible deal with initiatives and insurance policies to safe higher social outcomes for Singaporeans and assist the PAP acquire extra public assist,” mentioned Nydia Ngiow, managing director at Bower Group Asia.
“BOOKWORM, GUITARPLAYERANDDOGLOVER“
The son of a salesman and a main college trainer, Wong describes himself as a “bookworm, guitar participant and canine lover” in his Instagram profile.
Members of the PAP who've labored with Wong informed Reuters the politician “doesn't beat across the bush”, although additionally described him as considerate and kind-hearted.
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