as Singapore's fourth
Prime Minister
Singapore's Deputy Leader
Lawrence Wong has been sworn in
as the country's fourth Prime
Minister on 15 May 2024. Mr Wong,
a 51-year-old American-trained
economist, will replace Lee Hsien
Loong, 72, who stepped down after
two decades at the helm.
Lee's resignation marks the end of
the family dynasty led by his father
Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first
charismatic leader who built the
colonial trading outpost into a
business-friendly, prosperous
country during his 31 years in
office.
Wong, a civil servant turned
politician, came to prominence
coordinating the successful fight
against COVID-19 in the small
country of about six million people.
Lee will remain as a senior
minister, a path taken by all former
prime ministers.
Since becoming an independent
nation in 1965, Singapore has had
only three prime ministers – all
from the ruling People's Action
Party.
The mild-mannered Wong was
chosen by his peers to succeed 72-
year-old Lee in April 2022, among
the "4G", or fourth generation of
leaders in Singapore's political
jargon.
