SM Lee’s likely departure signals PM Wong’s leadership ahead of the 2025 General Election.
At the People’s Action Party (PAP) conference on Nov 24, 2024, the party’s leadership is expected to undergo a significant transition. Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong is anticipated to step down from his role as secretary-general, paving the way for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to assume the party leadership, aligning with the PAP’s transition from the third generation (3G) to the fourth generation (4G) of leaders.
The PAP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) will elect its 38th board, and this reorganization will set the stage for PM Wong to lead the party through the upcoming general election, due by November 2025. Observers predict that the CEC will largely consist of familiar faces from the 4G leadership, with minimal changes, continuing the PAP’s strong hold on governance.
The transition is expected to follow a similar pattern to that of SM Lee’s own appointment as secretary-general in 2004, after Goh Chok Tong’s announcement to step down. The upcoming conference will also provide clarity on PM Wong’s role as party leader and his team’s formation, which will influence the country’s leadership trajectory.
Key positions such as the first and second assistant secretaries-general will be scrutinized, as they signal the senior figures in the next government. The results of this leadership renewal are crucial, marking the final steps before the next election campaign.
