Who is Singapore's new Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong?
(Baonghean.vn) - Lawrence Wong, 51, assumed the position of Prime Minister of Singapore on May 15, becoming the fourth leader of the Asian financial hub since the country gained independence in 1965.
According to Reuters, Wong succeeds Lee Hsien Loong, the son of modern Singapore's founder Lee Kuan Yew, after Lee Hsien Loong's two decades in power.
Background
Mr. Wong was born on December 18, 1972, into what he considers an ordinary family. His father worked as a salesman, and his mother taught at the elementary school where Mr. Wong and his older brother attended.
Mr. Wong and his family live in a government housing complex in eastern Singapore called Marine Parade.
Education
While many politicians in Singapore tend to graduate from top British universities like Oxford or Cambridge, Wong did not attend any of them. He attended what were considered ordinary local schools, and in an interview, he once said that studying near home, where he had friends, felt very natural.
Wong also studied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and said he chose the United States because it is the home of his favorite musicians.
Mr. Wong also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Work experience
Mr. Wong is a government scholar and began his career as an economist at the Ministry of Commerce.
He has held some of the most important positions in Singapore's government, including chief executive of the Energy Market Authority and the prestigious role of Private Assistant to the Prime Minister.
He entered politics in 2011 and was appointed to the board of directors of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, also known as the central bank. Subsequently, he held investment portfolios in culture, national development, and education.
In 2020, he became the focus of attention as co-chair of the COVID-19 pandemic response task force and won the affection of the public for his calm demeanor while explaining the strict pandemic restrictions to Singaporeans.
Mr. Wong was appointed finance minister in 2021. In 2022, he was appointed deputy prime minister and succeeded Lee Hsien Loong, after winning the support of his colleagues. He has held the position of chairman of the central bank's board of directors since 2023.
Private life
Wong's social media is full of videos of him playing the guitar. He is a music lover, having received a guitar as a gift from his father when he was eight years old. Wong also describes himself as a bookworm and a dog lover.
Mr. Wong married in his 20s and is now divorced. The identity of his ex-wife is not widely known.
Mr. Wong has since remarried. His wife, Loo Tze Lui, works in asset management, and the couple has no children.