Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he will hand over power to his deputy Lawrence Wong before the country¡¯s next general election, and signaled the transition could come as early as 2024.
¡°I have full confidence in Lawrence and his team and there¡¯s no reason to delay the political transition,¡± Lee, 71, said during the ruling party¡¯s convention on Sunday. ¡°Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM Lawrence before the next general election.¡±
Lee has been leader for almost two decades and the People¡¯s Action Party has long telegraphed a power transition. An earlier wish by Lee to hand over the reins before he turned 70 was disrupted by COVID-19 and a shock decision by then-designated successor Heng Swee Keat to step aside in April 2021.
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