Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong resigned after 20 years in power and handed over the reins to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong. On Wednesday, Wong was sworn in as the fourth prime minister of Singapore after two decades.
Wong is only the second leader who is not a member of the founding Lee family. His promotion comes at a time when Singapore – one of the richest countries in the world – faces many challenges. The country faces issues like rising costs of living, immigration and economic inequality.
Here is all you need to know about the new Singapore premier:
Facts to know about Lawrence Wong
Wong was born on December 18, 1972, and comes from a family he describes as ordinary. His father worked in sales and his mother was a school teacher. He grew up in public housing and, unlike many Singapore politicians, did not attend an elite school.
Wong studied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and went to the United States because his favourite musicians lived there. He received his master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
After holding some of the key positions in Singapore’s bureaucracy, Wong forayed into politics in 2011. He ran for the People’s Action Party (PAP) – co-founded by Lee’s father, Lee Kuan Yew, and which has ruled the city-state for more than 60 years. Wong was later appointed to the board of directors of the central bank – the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He later held the portfolios of Culture, National Development and Education.
According to a Reuters report, Wong gained popularity during the pandemic for his unflappable demeanour while explaining the strict pandemic restrictions to Singaporeans. He became Finance Minister in 2021 and a year later he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, succeeding Lee. He has been chairman of the board of directors of the central bank since 2023.
