Singapore Presidential Election 2023: Tharman Shanmugaratnam Won With A Resounding 70.40% Vote

The country will change its culture to maintain its status as a “shining spot” in the world, according to the president-elect Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who entered politics in 2001. From 2011 until 2019, the age-66 Tharman Shanmugaratnam was the deputy prime minister of Singapore.

In 2001, he entered politics. He has also held ministerial posts and worked in the public sector. More than 2.7 million people cast ballots. At the opening of the polls at 8 AM, voters began casting their ballots. At 8 p.m. (local time), the voting closed.

The eighth and first female president of Singapore, Madam Halimah Yacob, will complete her six-year tenure on September 13. For the first time since 2011, Singapore’s presidential election was competitive. For more details read the full post below:

Singapore Ex-Deputy PM Shanmugaratnam Elected President

According to the Economic Times, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, a former deputy prime minister of Singapore, has been chosen to hold the ceremonial office of president in what is viewed as a gauge of popular opinion of the ruling party in light of the country’s economic difficulties.

The 66-year-old economist received 70.4 percent of the vote, which proclaimed him the winner over the other two contenders on Friday. According to Wionews, Tan Meng Dui, the election return officer, said:

“I declare Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam as the candidate duly elected as the president of Singapore,” 

Prior to the first competitive presidential election in almost a decade, Shanmugaratnam, a veteran leader of the government’s People’s Action Party (PAP), resigned from both the administration and the party. In a speech before the declaration of the results, Shanmugaratnam stated:

“I believe that it’s a vote of confidence in Singapore. It’s a vote of optimism for a future in which we can progress together,” 

Although the law designates the presidency as mostly ceremonial and nonpartisan, party lines had already been established in advance of Friday’s election to succeed incumbent Halimah Yacob, who was unchallenged for her six-year term in 2017.

The prime minister, now Lee Hsien Loong of the PAP, a party that has ruled Singapore continuously since 1959, is in charge of the city-state’s administration.

Analysts opined that the overwhelming victory for the candidate viewed as being closest to the status quo indicates that most Singaporeans still have faith in the People’s Action Party (PAP), which is currently in power. Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, a political scientist at Nanyang Technological University, said:

“It shows that the PAP is still a trusted brand, as long as the candidate that is put forth is credible. Tharman is as credible as it gets,”

Meet Singapore’s 9th President

Having held the positions of deputy prime minister, minister of finance, and minister of education over his 22-year political career, Tharman is well-known in Singaporean politics.

He entered politics in 2001 after serving as the deputy managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He was a People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate in the Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC), and he won the election.

You can read other election news by clicking the links below:

• The Former Attorney General Of Arizona Was On Record Denying Election Fraud
• The Grand Jury Looking Into The Trump Election Thinks That Some Witnesses Lied

He was re-elected four times, demonstrating his ongoing popularity with his constituents. Tharman served as the government’s deputy prime minister from 2011 to 2019 and as the finance minister from 2007 to 2015.

Prior to his resignation in July to take part in the presidential election, he was the senior minister and coordinating minister for social policies. The Straits Times Tweeted on Sep 1, 2023:

A Unifying Presidency Rooted in Experience and Independence

Tharman’s presidential campaign revolved around the slogan “Respect for All,” which reflected his idea of what a modern presidency should look like. He emphasized during his election campaign his dedication to using his 22 years of political experience to promote unity, which is an important duty of the President.

Tharman emphasized the significance of independent thinking mixed with substantial experience in policy-making, drawing inspiration from figures like former president Ong Teng Cheong who displayed independence within the framework of prior party ties.

Presidential Powers

The President of Singapore has the authority under the constitution to veto the use of the nation’s reserves and to nominate specific individuals to public offices. The position does not, however, have any executive authority.

Halimah Yacob was the only candidate in the election six years earlier, mostly as a result of the demanding nomination requirements that no other person was able to meet.

Three candidates emerged in this year’s election, and all three were independent enough to be eligible to run for president. George Goh, a businessman, was disqualified as a fourth candidate by the Presidential Elections Committee.

News Conduct is a platform that gives you the latest news. We encourage people to check our website often for the latest news.