In full: Leadership transition - exchange of letters between President Tharman, PM Lee and DPM Wong

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong presented a letter on Monday (May 13) to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, formally informing the President of his intent to resign as Singapore’s leader.

President Tharman thanked Mr Lee for the letter, and stated his intention to appoint Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as Singapore’s next Prime Minister.

This is the exchange of letters between Mr Lee, Mr Tharman, and Mr Wong:

Mr Lee’s letter to Mr Tharman:

Mr President,

I write to inform you that I intend to resign as Prime Minister on 15 May 2024. My government will also resign on the same day.

As you are aware, I had originally planned to hand over to a successor by the time I reached 70. However, this timetable was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, we carried out a process to choose my successor. On 14 April 2022, the PAP Members of Parliament met and unanimously endorsed Mr Lawrence Wong as the person to succeed me. Now, two years on, he is ready to lead Singapore.

I now formally advise you to invite Mr Lawrence, who commands the confidence of the majority of Members of Parliament, to inform the next government.

Mr Tharman’s letter to Mr Lee:

Dear Prime Minister,

Thank you for your letter of 13 May 2024 informing me that you and your government intend to resign on 15 May 2024. In my judgment, concurring with your advice, Mr Lawrence Wong is the Member of Parliament who commands the confidence of the majority of the Members of Parliament. I intend to appoint him as Prime Minister on 15 May 2024, and will invite him to form the next government.

On behalf of all Singaporeans, I thank you for your four decades of selfless service in government, including 20 years as our Prime Minister. You advanced a vibrant and more diversified economy. You opened new pathways of opportunity for Singaporeans, improved life for every segment of society and strengthened our social safety nets. You transformed our living environment, and set us on a path towards climate sustainability. And you have earned Singapore a unique standing in the world, with a voice of reason and a principled commitment to the international rule of law and the global good.

Your tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the crises which shook the world, in particular the 2008 Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. You gave our people the confidence to see through each crisis, while staying united. You steered a nation to emerge not just intact but stronger and more resilient.

Your approach to governance has always been to accept differences, find ways to bridge them, and strengthen the common ground. Today, Singapore stands as an open yet cohesive society, even as global trends have moved otherwise. You have also spent years mentoring the generation of leaders, and ensured a smooth and orderly transition of political leadership.

Your sense of duty and integrity, wisdom and compassion, have set a high standard, and will inspire those who follow.

I note that Mr Lawrence Wong intends to appoint you as Senior Minister. Your experience and advice will I am sure benefit the new leadership team as they chart the next phase of our history and make an even better Singapore.

Mr Tharman’s letter to Mr Wong:

Dear Mr Wong,

Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister, has informed me that he and his government intend to resign on 15 May 2024.

In my judgment, concurring with Mr Lee’s advice, you command the confidence of the majority of the Members of Parliament. In accordance with Article 25(1) of the Constitution, I therefore intend to appoint you as Prime Minister on 15 May 2024. I now invite you to form the next government.

I have every confidence that as Prime Minister, you will Singapore with honour and ensure the continued stability and vitality of our nation.