As per political analysts, a Cabinet reshuffle is anticipated to transpire in the weeks leading up to the inauguration of Mr. Lawrence Wong as the fourth Prime Minister of Singapore on May 15. The possibility has been raised that the reshuffle might be announced beforehand, prior to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officially ceding power to Mr. Wong, his current deputy. Such speculation is underpinned by precedent, as past leadership successions were preceded by the announcement of the new Cabinet.
It is anticipated that the new Cabinet will be sworn in concurrently with Mr. Lawrence Wong. Former Member of Parliament Inderjit Singh and Assistant Professor Elvin Ong from the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Department of Political Science, both foresee the Cabinet reshuffle occurring by May 15.
With regards to potential candidates for Deputy Prime Minister, political observers have identified Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, and current Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat as possible contenders. There is also speculation that the new Deputy Prime Minister could have a defense background, given the significance of the role in Singapore.
Furthermore, observers are eager to ascertain which senior ministers will step down and which junior ministers will be promoted in the reshuffle. It is also anticipated that Prime Minister Lee will continue to wield influence in the Cabinet, likely in a mentoring capacity for younger Members of Parliament and political office holders.
Dr. Gillian Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), opines that Mr. Lee will assume the role of Senior Minister, leveraging his substantial social capital among regional and global leaders. Meanwhile, Dr. Tan believes that Mr. Lee will persist as a dependable and influential figure in parliament, offering guidance to the new leadership team.
In conclusion, the impending reshuffle in Singapore’s Cabinet is a subject of close scrutiny, with much conjecture and excitement surrounding the potential changes and appointments within the government.
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