In a pivotal moment for Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the former deputy prime minister, emerged victorious in the presidential election, marking a significant departure from the uncontested elections of the past decade. Shanmugaratnam, a 66-year-old distinguished economist, clinched victory with an impressive 70.4 percent of the ballots cast, decisively defeating two formidable rivals.
The Elections Department, the governing body overseeing electoral matters in Singapore, officially declared Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam as the duly elected president, as proclaimed by the election returning officer Tan Meng Dui.
This significant win sees Shanmugaratnam stepping into the role formerly held by Halimah Yacob, who secured her six-year term uncontested in 2017. Shanmugaratnam expressed his belief that this victory reflects the confidence and optimism Singaporeans place in the nation’s future, united in their aspirations for progress.
The position of Singapore’s president carries stringent responsibilities, including the stewardship of the city-state’s amassed financial reserves and the authority to veto specific measures and sanction investigations into corruption.
Political observers have noted that Shanmugaratnam’s election is a boon for the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), which has been grappling with an unusual spate of political scandals leading up to the presidential election.
It’s worth mentioning that Shanmugaratnam, a former finance minister and long-time PAP loyalist, had severed his ties with the government to vie for the non-partisan presidency. Nonetheless, his independence had been subject to scrutiny during the campaign due to his prior affiliations with the ruling party.
