# Singapore has a new President.

**Published by:** [Durwin](https://paragraph.com/@durwin/)
**Published on:** 2023-09-15
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@durwin/singapore-has-a-new-president

## Content

The people of Singapore have spoken!Surprise, anguish, excitement or tears, Singapore has crowned a new President. The name on everyone’s lips is Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Singaporeans don’t really get to vote much. So of course we were excited about the presidential election. Plus we get the day off. Tharman emerged victorious, securing an astounding 70.4% of the vote share. But what’s even more intriguing is the diverse support he garnered, including staunch opposition supporters who cast their ballots in his favor. This election has left us all pondering the implications, the fun, the powers, and the significance of Tharman’s presidency.Win or lose, I think all of them were brave to put themselves up for the public scrutiny.Mr Tharman received 70.4 per cent of the vote. Followed by former GIC chief investment officer [Ng Kok Song] (15.72 per cent). Lastly, former NTUC Income chief [Tan Kin Lian] (13.88 per cent). By those statistics, that makes him the most popular president in Singapore’s history ever. Oh my, he is really well-loved and admired by Singaporeans! Tharman’s extensive experience and undeniable skills outweighed any reservations stemming from his past political affiliations. After a 22-year stint with the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), Tharman stepped down in July, creating a buzz of speculation about his future endeavors.Will President Biden win his next term?His involvement in serving the public and his impeccable track record in politics set him apart, eventually winning over even those who initially questioned his political independence. I mean, just hear the man speak for a bit and you will understand why. He has a charming style of an older, wiser sage, speaking certainly and confidently. His mind is sharp, his voice is commanding, and his demeanor is very pleasant. Tharman’s credentials and his ability to handle significant responsibilities, both domestically and internationally, became the focal points of his candidacy.Many have wondered when will Elon finally agree to run for president?Tan Kin Lian and Ng Kok Song are brave souls. To even put themselves up for the presidency, to be scrutinized and possibly ridiculed by the population, calls for courage. Running for Presidency is no joke. At their age, they have the riches and have earned the right to retire in peace. Yet they put themselves out there to serve. I have to commend them for their bravery. Personally, without getting too political, I feel that putting Tharman against the others was like bringing an F35 fighter jet to combat infantryman. He is way overpowered. Still it was nice to have competition so we could bring it to a vote. Let’s also be reminded of the splendid job that the current President Halimah Yacob did! I had the honor to organize the Mission:Unite hackathon that she was the Guest-of-Honor for. She was gentle, sincere, down-to-earth and responsible. A different kind of leader.President Halimah has done a great job steering Singapore this far.But anybody who met her would tell you she is a joyful, hearty and passionate individual. Happy to see her retire from the public scene and enjoy her life. So what does Tharman’s win mean? Don’t overthink it. People are saying its a proxy for PAP’s dominance. Some are talking about how the Singapore President has no real powers. Some are saying how the PM really has all the say. Well, a very good and capable person just earned the right to be Singapore’s 9th President. Can we just savor the moment and show our solidarity and support? I am confident that Tharman will do a splendid job representing Singapore on the global stage and serving Singaporeans well, as he did for decades.Will Donald Trump win again?I just hope he engages deeply and share more with the people on social media over time. His mind, values and thinking should be shared more to the younger generation. - Did the best man won? - #Singapore #TharmanShanmugaratnam #PresidentialElection #SingaporePolitics #NewPresident #ElectionResults #FutureLeadership #SingaporeanVoters #PoliticalLandscape #CompetenceMatters #ProgressiveChoice #halimahyacob

## Publication Information

- [Durwin](https://paragraph.com/@durwin/): Publication homepage
- [All Posts](https://paragraph.com/@durwin/): More posts from this publication
- [RSS Feed](https://api.paragraph.com/blogs/rss/@durwin): Subscribe to updates
- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/DurwinHo): Follow on Twitter