Singapore-born Indian-born economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam scored a landslide victory in Singapore’s presidential election on Friday, winning more than 70% of the vote in the country’s first contested presidential election since 2011 .
The 66-year-old former senior minister received 70.4 percent (1,746,427 votes) out of 2.48 million votes cast, while his ethnic Chinese rivals Wong Kwok Song and Chen Jianlian received 15.72 percent and 13.88 percent respectively. the department said.
Elector Tan Ming Tue announced the results just after midnight, and Tharman became Singapore’s third Indian-born president.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Tharman Tharman, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2019, on his victory in the presidential election.
“Singaporeans have chosen Mr Tharman Tharman as our next president by a decisive margin. As head of state, he will represent us at home and abroad and exercise oversight powers, including reserves and key appointments,” he said.
Lee noted that in Friday’s election, both voters and candidates had a better understanding of the role and responsibilities of the president, which bodes well for Singapore.
“I have every confidence that he will do an excellent job as president,” he said.
Speaking at the Jurong Food Center where his supporters had gathered earlier, Tharman said he was “very humbled” by the overwhelming support that Singaporeans had given him.
“I’m humbled by this vote – it’s not just a vote for me, it’s a vote for the future of Singapore, which is a future of optimism and unity. That’s what Singaporeans want,” he said.
“I will respect the trust that Singaporeans have placed in me, and respect all Singaporeans, including those who did not vote for me,” Tharman said.
Prime Minister Lee’s People’s Action Party backed Tharman in the election.
Lee Hsien Loong said he congratulated Tharman on his landslide victory and assured him of the government’s full cooperation.
“Shandarman also announced his intention to work closely with the government. As head of state, the president must be a unifying figure that all Singaporeans respect and identify with,” Lee said.
Tharman formally launched his presidential campaign in July, promising to develop the country’s culture and make it a “highlight” globally.
He entered politics in 2001 and has been in the public sector for over two decades, including ministerial positions in the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
More than 2.7 million voters cast their ballots. Voters cast their ballots after polling stations open at 8 a.m. Voting closes at 8:00 pm (local time).
The six-year term of the current president, Madam Halimah Jacob, ends on September 13. She is the eighth and first female president of the country.
It was Singapore’s first contested presidential election since 2011.
Singapore has had two presidents of Indian descent in the past.
Sellapan Ramanathan, commonly known as SR Nathan, is a Tamil-Singaporean politician and civil servant who served as President of Singapore. In 2009, Nathan beat Benjamin Shellace to become Singapore’s longest-serving president.
Chengara Veetil Devan Nair, better known as Devan Nair, served as Singapore’s third President from 1981 until his resignation in 1985. Nair was born in Malacca, Malaysia, in 1923, the son of a rubber plantation clerk in Thalassery, Kerala. .
