Asia | Banyan

Lawrence Wong will be only the fourth PM in Singapore’s history

The next leader promises continuity and change

Illustration of a Singapore flag being handed between 2 different people's hands
Illustration: Lan Truong

IN THE REPUBLIC’S 59-year history, Singapore has had only three leaders. On May 15th it gets its fourth, when the prime minister of 20 years, Lee Hsien Loong—who is 72 and whose father, Lee Kuan Yew, ruled with an iron will for 31 years—will resign. At a ceremony at the presidential palace, Lawrence Wong, the current finance minister, will be sworn in. He is Mr Lee’s junior by two decades. Singapore now faces the prospect of a future without a Lee at the helm.

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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Installing the 4G network”

From the April 20th 2024 edition

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