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April 12, 2021
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On April 8, the designated successor of Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, announced his decision to step aside as the next leader of the city-state. He said it would be in the best interest of the whole nation to have a leader with a sufficiently long runway – long enough to “not only rebuild Singapore post-COVID-19, but also lead the next phase of our nation-building effort.”
The question of who would succeed Lee had been a question until Heng was appointed as deputy prime minister two years ago. Now, his decision to quit the line is a setback. The move raises a series of questions on the timing and implications of the move, including the big one: Who will follow Lee as prime minister?