Tony Tan, 71, new president of Singapore
by Jeremy Lim
The city-state’s seventh president will take the oath of office on Thursday. Close to the ruling party, he said he would be an active check and balance on the government, “a president for all Singaporeans.” The narrow-margin victory shows a politically divided society.
Singapore (AsiaNews) – With the swearing in ceremony set for Thursday, Tony Tan, 71, a former deputy prime minister, will become the seventh president of the Southeast Asian city-state. Affiliated with the ruling People’s Action Party, he was elected last week with 35.2 per cent of the vote, just 0.34 per cent more than his closest rival.
In Singapore, the office of the presidency is highly symbolic and the president’s role is largely ceremonial, but one that generates so much respect in the public that it allows the office holder to wield substantial influence in the nation’s political life.
For Singapore watchers, Tony Tan was closer than any other candidates to the current ruling party with whom he has strong political ties.
The new president won by a small margin in a highly competitive race that ended in a nail-biting result.
In his maiden speech as president-elect, the mathematician-turned politician said he would work for the greater good of the country.
"The President is a president for all Singaporeans, not only for those who have voted for me but even for those who have not voted for me," he said.
In the past, Tan held a number of high-profile posts, including that of deputy prime minister as well as minister of education, finance and defence.
In his new role, he promised to use the President's authority to be an active check and balance on the government.
Both presidential and last May’s parliamentary elections show a divided society. They also confirm that the ruling party’s strong hold on the country is declining (see also “Singapore: Prime Minister wins election and promises a redistribution of wealth,” In AsiaNews, 9 May 2011).
For this reason, “Now that the election is over, we should all come together again as Singaporeans, to tackle the challenges that Singapore faces, and take our nation forward," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.
In Singapore, the office of the presidency is highly symbolic and the president’s role is largely ceremonial, but one that generates so much respect in the public that it allows the office holder to wield substantial influence in the nation’s political life.
For Singapore watchers, Tony Tan was closer than any other candidates to the current ruling party with whom he has strong political ties.
The new president won by a small margin in a highly competitive race that ended in a nail-biting result.
In his maiden speech as president-elect, the mathematician-turned politician said he would work for the greater good of the country.
"The President is a president for all Singaporeans, not only for those who have voted for me but even for those who have not voted for me," he said.
In the past, Tan held a number of high-profile posts, including that of deputy prime minister as well as minister of education, finance and defence.
In his new role, he promised to use the President's authority to be an active check and balance on the government.
Both presidential and last May’s parliamentary elections show a divided society. They also confirm that the ruling party’s strong hold on the country is declining (see also “Singapore: Prime Minister wins election and promises a redistribution of wealth,” In AsiaNews, 9 May 2011).
For this reason, “Now that the election is over, we should all come together again as Singaporeans, to tackle the challenges that Singapore faces, and take our nation forward," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.
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See also
Singapore president in Italy to meet Pope Francis
24/05/2016 14:48
24/05/2016 14:48
