Singapore's new PM to be sworn in, marking end of Lee dynasty

• Lawrence Wong, a US-trained economist, will become Singapore's fourth prime minister, succeeding Lee Hsien Loong.
• Wong's elevation follows a carefully planned political succession aimed at ensuring continuity and stability in Singapore.
• Wong was chosen by the ruling People's Action Party after the withdrawal of Heng Swee Keat, the anointed successor.

Singapore's deputy leader Lawrence Wong will be sworn in on Wednesday as the nation's fourth prime minister in a carefully planned political succession designed to ensure continuity and stability in the Asian financial hub.

Wong, 51, a U.S.-trained economist, succeeds Lee Hsien Loong, 72, 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 turned the colonial trading post into a prosperous, business-friendly country during 31 years in office.

Wong, a civil servant turned politician, rose to prominence while coordinating Singapore's successful fight against COVID-19. But he was not the first choice for the top job.

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Heng Swee Keat, former central bank chief and education minister, was the anointed successor but withdrew his nomination in 2021. Wong was then tapped by the ruling People's Action Party in 2022 to fill the void and quickly promoted to deputy prime minister.

“I will certainly strive to be a strong, kind and determined leader. And I will do my best to build a Singapore where everyone can realize their full potential,” Wong said on social media earlier this month.

Wong's rise to the top has been meticulously crafted by the PAP – one of the longest-serving political parties in the world and known for its clean and effective governance – and will not change the dynamics in the small nation of about 6 million. population.

Wong has retained the cabinet and his finance portfolio as he prepares for his first big test in the general elections scheduled for 2025 but expected to be called this year. Before taking office, he promoted Commerce Minister Gan Kim Yong as one of two vice premiers. The other deputy is Heng.

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Lee will remain as chief minister, a path followed by all former prime ministers.

While victory in the election is assured, Wong must achieve a stronger victory after the PAP suffered a setback in the 2020 polls due to growing voter discontent with the government.

Under Lee's rule, Singapore flourished into one of the richest nations in the world, but it also became one of the most expensive cities to live in. The PAP has also been criticized for its strict government control and government-knows-best stance, censorship of the media, and use of oppressive laws against dissidents.

Issues such as growing income disparity, increasingly unaffordable housing, overcrowding caused by immigration and restrictions on freedom of expression are often used as fodder by the opposition and have loosened the PAP's grip on power.

“One-party rule in Singapore is weakening, but the challenge for PAP leaders is to slow the process,” said Eugene Tan, a law professor at Singapore Management University.

Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia political expert, said Lee “will be remembered for quietly and successfully steering Singapore through turbulent waters of the 2008-2009 financial crisis and COVID-19. He helped build resilience in Singapore. .. (But) Singapore has become a more complex society, with more open demands, making the task of governing (for Wong) more challenging.”

Wong was born seven years after Singapore separated from Malaysia and gained independence in 1965. His father was a migrant from China and his mother was a teacher. Unlike many senior PAP leaders, he did not have a privileged background. Observers have said this could help him better connect with the average citizen.

Wong obtained a scholarship to study in the United States, subsequently obtaining a master's degree in economics from the University of Michigan and another master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. He spent years in public service, including as Lee's principal private secretary, before entering politics in 2011. He has handled the defence, education, communications, culture, community and youth portfolios.

Like Lee, Wong is active on social media. Married with no children, he does not reveal much about his private life, but has hinted at his interests in music and dogs, and is a fan of tennis star Roger Federer. He often posts videos of himself playing the guitar.

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Wong has launched a Forward Singapore plan to enable Singaporeans to have a say in how to develop a more balanced, vibrant and inclusive agenda for the next generation. Wong often speaks in a flat tone and may not appear charismatic, but he is generally considered a trustworthy and approachable leader.

“We can expect his leadership to be more consultative… one that emphasizes the team concept in which his key lieutenants will be prominent,” said law professor Tan.

Tan said Wong's immediate priorities will be to address issues such as the rising cost of living, housing affordability and job security. “The basic issues remain vital even for a prosperous country, partly because of Singapore's innate vulnerabilities,” she said.

On foreign policy, Tan said Wong needs to navigate the “Chinese-American power rivalry in which Southeast Asia has become an indirect theater of contention.” Singapore, like some of its neighbors, has remained neutral, but could later be forced to choose sides on a range of issues, he said.