Who is Lawrence Wong? Singapore PM retains power after landslide victory

Economist-turned-politician Lawrence Wong led his People's Action Party to a landslide victory in the general election and returned to power as Singapore's prime minister. 

 

Wong said his mission is clear: to steer Singapore, through the storm, and secure a brighter future for Singaporeans.

 

His campaign focused on the tariff war triggered by the US President Donald Trump. 

 

Wong, 52, had taken oath as the PM in May last year, succeeding Lee Hsien Loong (72) who stepped down after two decades at the post. In 2021, he was the finance minister.

 

In April 2022, he was named the People's Action Party's (PAP) fourth-generation, or 4G, team, and in June of that year promoted to deputy prime minister. 

 

Wong is also the secretary-general of PAP, which has been driving Singapore's economic progress for more than five decades. 

 

Amid Trump's tariff war, an economist at the helm of the country is seen as a boost for economic growth.  the deputy chairman of the GIC Board and chairman GIC Investment Strategies Committee. GIC is one of the three investment entities in Singapore that manage Singapore's reserves.

 

A US-educated economist with a vision

 

Wong obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, respectively. He also holds a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. 

 

Earlier, he was the chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and was appointed Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister in June 2022. 

 

Wong is married to Loo Tze Lui.

 

In 2022, he launched the Forward Singapore exercise, a nationwide consultation effort where PAP's younger leaders engaged citizens on their hopes and concerns for the future. 

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