Don’t expect Lee era to end soon in Singapore

Singapore’s finance minister, Lawrence Wong, has solidified his place as the front runner to succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. As the now-undisputed leader of a rising political class, the top job is his to lose. Just don’t expect the Lee era to end next month, or even next year.
Wong’s ascent puts to rest a rare period of uncertainty about the future of the People’s Action Party, which has ruled the city-state since independence in 1965. His climb also represents a referendum of sorts on Wong’s handling of the pandemic: He was co-chair of the Covid-19 taskforce. Singapore wants to declare victory and move on.
Lee told the nation that Wong is now the formal leader of the
so-called fourth generation of lawmakers, known as 4G. The announcement, as Singaporeans began the Easter long weekend, was followed by days of glowing stories about Wong in the domestic media. Rivals for leadership of the 4G cohort, along with PAP elders and rank-and-file legislators, lined up to pledge their support.
“This decision on succession is a crucial one for Singapore,” said Lee. “It will ensure the continuity and stability of leadership that are the hallmarks of our system.”
Wong’s ascent wasn’t always inevitable and isn’t necessarily a sure thing. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who was thought to be in pole position for the premiership, pulled out abruptly last year. Since then, prominent ministers have been jockeying for the job. Wong’s main competitors were considered to be Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who co-chairs the Covid taskforce with him, and Education Minister Chan Chun Sing. Past PAP leadership successions — there have only been two to date — were better choreographed.
The 70-year-old Lee hasn’t set a specific timetable for departure, but said last year he wanted to ensure that Covid was under control and the republic was in “good working order” before handing over the keys. Lee, son of Singapore’s first prime minister, has been at the helm for almost two decades. At a press conference Saturday, Lee demurred on whether the transition would occur before the next general election, due by late 2025.
Wong, 49, hasn’t had easy jobs, and has made his share of errors. Like other nations, Singapore hit several stumbling blocks during the pandemic. But the government never denied the problem, as neighboring Indonesia did, nor did it keep strict border controls to the point of irretrievably tarnishing its reputation, as appears to have been in case with Hong Kong.
Singapore’s next battle is against inflation. Hours before the announcement of Wong’s promotion, the central bank undertook its most aggressive monetary tightening since 2010.

—Bloomberg