Indian-origin Tharman Shanmugaratnam is Singapore’s new President
New Delhi:
Singapore’s former Indian-origin Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam was elected President on Friday, comfortably securing victory within the city-state’s first contested vote for the largely ceremonial place in additional than a decade.
“My fellow Singaporeans, I’m actually humbled by the robust endorsement you may have given me in our nation’s presidential election. My fellow candidates put full effort and power into their campaigns, and made this a worthy contest. I thank and commend them,” Mr Shanmugaratnam posted on Fb.
“Above all I thank my fellow Singaporeans, whichever means you voted, to your curiosity and calm engagement within the points raised within the election. I consider the vote for me and what I stood for is a vote of confidence in Singapore itself, a vote of optimism in how we are able to progress collectively and assist one another as Singaporeans,” he mentioned.
Singaporeans headed to the polls that have been carefully watched as a sign of assist for the ruling social gathering after a uncommon spate of scandals, however the longtime stalwart of the social gathering received greater than two-thirds of the vote over two rivals.
“I consider that it is a vote of confidence in Singapore. It is a vote of optimism for a future during which we are able to progress collectively and assist one another as Singaporeans,” the previous Finance Minister mentioned in a speech earlier than the outcomes have been introduced.
“I am humbled by this vote. It isn’t only a vote for me, it’s a vote for Singapore’s future,” he mentioned, as he received 70.4 per cent of the vote to win a six-year time period.
Whereas the presidency is a non-partisan put up below the structure, political traces had already been drawn forward of the election to exchange incumbent Halimah Yacob, who ran unopposed for her six-year time period in 2017.