Singapore’s former deputy prime minister, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, secured the presidency in a contested election, marking the city-state’s first competitive race for the ceremonial role in over a decade.
The Elections Department declared Shanmugaratnam the winner with 70.4% of the vote, succeeding the unopposed incumbent, Halimah Yacob, who assumed the position in 2017.
“I declare Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam as the candidate duly elected as the president of Singapore,” Election returning officer Tan Meng Dui said while declaring the result.
Tharman, a respected economist and former finance minister, emphasized the significance of the vote as a show of confidence in Singapore’s future.
While his previous government ties raised questions about his independence, his victory is seen as a boost for the ruling People’s Action Party amid recent political scandals.
