Wong is set to be the fourth Prime Minister since Singapore’s independence.
In an announcement posted by Singapore’s Prime Minister Office, it shared that incumbent PM Lee Hsien Loong “will relinquish his office on 15 May 2024.”
PMO added that “he will formally advise the President [Tharman Shanmugaratnam] to appoint Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong to succeed him.”
“DPM Wong has the unanimous support of the PAP [People’s Action Party] MPs,” the office added.
Wong will be sworn in as Singapore’s newest Prime Minister on May 15, 2024 at 8:00 pm at the Istana.
In a personal statement posted on his Facebook account, Lee said that “For any country, a leadership transition is a significant moment. Lawrence and the 4G team have worked hard to gain the people’s trust, notably during the pandemic.”
“Through the Forward Singapore exercise, they have worked with many Singaporeans to refresh our social compact and develop the national agenda for a new generation,” the Prime Minister added.
“The 4G team are committed to keeping Singapore working well and moving ahead. These will always be top priorities for the government.”
Finally, he requested all Singaporeans “to give Lawrence and his team your full support, and work with them to create a brighter future for Singapore.”
In a prior speech, current PM Lee revealed that he had initially intended to step down from the office as early as February 2022, but the plan was scrambled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Late last year, Lee confirmed that he will be leaving his post sometime this 2024, marking the end to his almost two-decade-long term in office that began in August 2004.
In May 2022, Lawrence Wong was appointed PM-in-waiting when he was also named leader of the People’s Action Party’s fourth generation team, otherwise known as 4G.
Wong replaced former Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who in May 2021 said that he is not pursuing the top job as Singapore’s PM.
The next Prime Minister has also given his statement about the leadership handover, saying that he is “honoured to be asked to undertake this new responsibility as the Prime Minister of Singapore.”
“I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty. I pledge to give you my all in this undertaking,” Wong wrote.
“Together, we can build a future that shines brightly for all Singaporeans.”
Wong entered politics in 2011 as a Member of Parliament for the West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
He then moved to the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC when it was established in 2015.
As MP, he had held various ministry jobs, such as Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth, Minister for Education, and most recently as Minister for Finance and chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
After the transition of power, a general election is due to take place before November 2025, as prescribed by Singaporean law.