Singapore’s former deputy prime minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been elected president, earning a landslide victory in the city-state’s first contested vote for the largely ceremonial position in more than a decade.
Citizens headed to the polls that were closely watched as an indication of support for the ruling party after a rare spate of scandals, but the longtime stalwart of the party got more than two-thirds of the vote over two other contestants.
He won 70.4% of the vote to win a six-year term.
“I believe that it’s a vote of confidence in Singapore. It’s a vote of optimism for a future in which we can progress together and support each other as Singaporeans,” the former finance minister said in a speech before the results were announced.
“I’m humbled by this vote. It is not just a vote for me, it is a vote for Singapore’s future.”
His main rival Ng Kok Song, a former chief investment officer of Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, conceded after winning only 15.7% of the votes.
Shanmugaratnam was widely viewed as the favourite for the position and had resigned as a member of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and as a senior minister in the cabinet ahead of the election as all presidential candidates must be independent.
The 66-year-old economist is perceived as having the government’s backing and was questioned about his independence during the campaign.
The city-state’s government is run by the prime minister, currently Lee Hsien Loong of the PAP, which has ruled Singapore continuously since 1959.
