Republished with full copyright permissions from The Washington Daily Chronicle.

Singapore’s recent presidential race saw former deputy premier Tharman Shanmugaratnam triumph with a resounding 70.4% of votes, reflecting voter support despite recent scandals plaguing the ruling party. Elevated to various pivotal roles within the People’s Action Party over a span of two decades, Tharman’s landslide victory underscores a vote for both him and Singapore’s future.

The opposition was led by Ng Kok Song, former chief investment officer of Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Pte., who secured second place with 15.7% of votes. Tan Kin Lian, a previous presidential hopeful, claimed the third position with 13.9% of votes.

Having been dominated by candidates closely associated with the PAP, Singapore’s presidential post is largely ceremonial. However, the results of this election suggest strong public support for the ruling party, especially as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is expected to step down after close to twenty years in office. Lee’s anticipated succession aligns with the upcoming national polls scheduled to be held before 2025.

In his predecessor’s role, Tharman exercises significant powers such as the ability to veto spending bills and authorize the utilization of past reserves for extraordinary expenditure. The president also plays a significant role in key civil service appointments and possesses the authority to instruct the anti-graft agency to continue investigations against the prime minister’s objections.

Tharman has positioned himself as an independent-minded candidate with an extensive background in governance. He secured the highest margin of votes among PAP members of parliament during the 2020 general election, despite the party experiencing its worst-ever performance.

Prime Minister Lee has praised Tharman’s credentials, highlighting his ability to perform presidential duties with utmost integrity. However, Tharman’s past affiliations with the PAP prompted him to adopt a defensive stance during a recent forum when questioned about his independence from his former party.

Tharman emphasized that while senior figures in the public service owe their positions to political figures, it does not necessarily imply an obligation to them. He asserted that the degree of allegiance depends on the individual.