Singapore’s ruling party selected Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for a key role in the central executive committee, formalizing a succession plan that will see him eventually succeed Lee Hsien Loong as the next leader.
Wong was appointed as deputy secretary-general of the People’s Action Party by the 18-member central executive committee while Lee retained the secretary-general position. The deputy post is a newly-created one, and previously it was the first assistant secretary that was the heir apparent.
“The CEC has made a new Deputy Secretary-General appointment, in addition to two Assistant Secretary General appointments, in line with plans for the party leadership transition,” the party said in a statement Saturday. “The Deputy Sec-Gen will exercise the roles and responsibilities of the Sec-Gen, in the absence of the Sec-Gen.”
