Hello.
Former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be inaugurated as Singapore’s ninth President on Sep 14, after a landslide victory at the polls last week. The significance of his win is not lost on anyone.
It confirms that Singaporeans value multiracialism and meritocracy, says the Institute of Policy Studies’ Gillian Koh, though it will be interesting to see how many more years it will take to achieve another breakthrough – a non-Chinese prime minister.
The 2023 Presidential Election result has other nearer-term political implications. For one, the prospect of a hugely popular president known for his independent mind striking a new working relationship with a new prime minister is an intriguing one in safe, predictable Singapore, says Han Fook Kwang. SMU associate professor Eugene Tan warns that Mr Tharman’s outstanding performance should not be misread as voter support for the ruling People’s Action Party in the next General Election, which must be held by November 2025.
Till then, political candidates can look to the election campaigns for lessons, from the use of snappy short-form videos on social media to the power of campaign symbols and pets. Who doesn’t love Max the cat, Cooper the dog or Socks, Judy and Awan?
We hope you enjoy our selection of commentaries this week.
Charlene Tan
Senior Editor, Commentary
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