What’s at stake in Singapore ruling party’s internal elections?
- The People’s Action Party will elect its new top decision-making body on Sunday
- Three ministers are in the running to be the country’s fourth prime minister
This Sunday, a highly significant election will take place in Singapore quietly, when about 1,000 key members of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) meet to vote in a new central executive committee (CEC).
The person most likely to take over from Lee will probably be voted into the party’s highest decision-making body and appointed as an assistant secretary-general. Currently, Lee is the secretary-general, with deputy prime ministers Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam as assistant secretary-generals of the PAP.
The three contenders to be Singapore’s fourth prime minister all have cabinet positions and roles in the party. Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung are organising secretaries, while Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat is a CEC member.
As Singapore grapples with rising global volatility and disruption, some citizens are starting to feel a sense of an uncertain future, an unclear vision and direction. There is a need for strong and excellent leadership to re-energise Singaporeans, like its pioneer leaders did over 50 years ago in fighting for independence.
