Lawrence Wong, who emerged from the pandemic

Photo: STRAITS TIMES – Data: BAO ANH compiled – Graphics: N.KH.

Experts say that Mr. Wong’s performance in the role of co-chair of Singapore’s COVID-19 task force over the past time, along with his easy-going image, sets him apart from other experts. another candidate as the PAP seeks to appeal to a younger group of voters.

Forged in many positions

In 2019, before COVID-19 appeared, when asked any person in Singapore, “Who will be the successor to Mr. Lee Hsien Loong?” the answer is always Mr. Vuong Thuy Kiet (Heng Swee Keat), born in 1961.

However, after a disappointing performance in the 2020 general election (in which the PAP won a record low approval rating since 2011), expectations in both PAP and public opinion have gradually shifted.

In April 2021, citing his age and believing that Singapore needed a young person to create a “longer runway” to help the country take off after COVID-19, Mr. Wang resigned from the position of leader of the 4G group.

It was a development that some Asian newspapers described as shocking Singapore. This comes from the history of Singapore and the PAP, which is that once the leader of the previous generation has targeted someone, it is almost certain that that person will become prime minister.

After the cabinet reshuffle in May 2021, Mr. Wang no longer holds the position of finance minister, although he is still deputy prime minister. The position of finance minister was transferred to Mr. Lawrence Wong – the then 49-year-old education minister.

At the time, it was rumored that Mr. Wong was the man Mr. Lee had selected for the post of finance minister – a position usually reserved for an apprentice successor. Mr. Lee himself also had to test his capacity at the ministry for more than six years before becoming prime minister.

Before all speculations, Prime Minister Lee chose not to explain and announced that he would continue to steer the Singapore boat through the COVID-19 storm, instead of retiring before the age of 70 as planned, and would return the helm. when the country was good enough.

In fact, Mr. Lee started looking for a successor at the end of 2021, a few months before he celebrated his 70th birthday. The current prime minister also revealed this in a press conference on the morning of April 16, after the announcement. His father Lawrence Wong is the leader of the 4G group.

Meredith Weiss, a political science professor at New York University, said Mr Wong had built an image of “not only competent but also approachable and reasonable”.

“Mr Wong’s role in the COVID-19 task force, along with his past positions in education, finance and other roles, has worked in his favor.” Mrs. Meredith Weiss said.

Closed meetings and open issues

Although Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was not directly involved in the consultation process to select the leader of the 4G group, he described it as a “almost meditative” process: it requires concentration, calm reflection and deception. Leave all love, hate, personal bias aside.

19 people, including 17 4G cabinet ministers, spent hours talking to former PAP chairman Khaw Boon Wan to talk about who they thought was more deserving than themselves to be prime minister. .

“Prime Minister Lee told me that my task is not only to determine who has the strongest support from the ministers, but also to think how to promote consensus and group cohesion. together,” Khaw shared at a press conference on the morning of April 16. In the end, Minister Lawrence Wong was selected by 15 out of 19 people.

When asked about this result, do you feel pressured when there are 4 people who do not choose you (in fact, 3, because you and others cannot choose yourself), Minister Lawrence Wong cleverly politely replied, thank you for all the support.

Earlier, in another question about the 4G generation, he affirmed that political leadership “never belongs to one person” and pledged to gather other ministers, build a working group to leading Singapore.

“To be an effective prime minister, Lawrence Wong needs to trust and rely on his ministers. His ministers also have to play a part, have to support the prime minister and support the team. All They all have to work together to record achievements for Singapore,” Prime Minister Lee explained.

Weekly Nikkei Asia said that this will be one of the important tasks that Mr. Wong needs to do before the general election in 2025, besides improving the approval rate of the people with the PAP. Mr. Lee himself remains open to the possibility of continuing to lead the PAP to win the general election in 2025, then handing power to Mr. Lawrence Wong.

However, at a press conference on April 16, he also announced that he could transfer power before the election, at any time Mr. Lawrence Wong was ready.