Who will be the next S'pore PM-in-waiting?

Heng Swee Keat, still the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), surprised the nation on April 8 with his decision to step aside as leader of the fourth generation (4G) team of the People's Action Party (PAP).

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed that Heng will also relinquish his portfolio as Minister for Finance at the next Cabinet reshuffle, which is scheduled in the next couple of weeks.

Although Heng will continue to serve as DPM, it is clear that he is no longer in the running for the role of Singapore's next Prime Minister. He said as much in his letter to PM Lee, along with a desire for that person to have a "longer runway" to get to grips with the job.

The next, natural question is -- who will it be, if not Heng?

Chan Chun Sing


There might be an obvious answer.

If the 1st Assistant Secretary-General of the PAP is no longer in the running, then isn't it likely to be the 2nd Assistant Secretary-General?

Chan was seen as a frontrunner, alongside Heng. The question was arguably only settled in 2018, with the announcement that Chan would be the 2nd Assistant-Secretary General to Heng's 1st.

Chan would seem a strong contender to be frontrunner, although at 51, he's less than 10 years younger than Heng at 60.

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