Who is the new Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong?
(Baonghean.vn) - Mr. Lawrence Wong, 51 years old, took office as Prime Minister of Singapore on May 15, becoming the fourth leader of the Asian financial center since the country's independence in 1965.
According to Reuters, Mr. Wong succeeded Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, son of modern Singapore's founder Lee Kuan Yew, after 2 decades of Mr. Lee Hsien Loong in power.
Background
Mr. Wong was born on December 18, 1972, into what he considered a normal family. His father worked as a salesman and his mother taught at the primary school that Mr. Wong and his older brother attended.
Mr. Wong and his family live in a public housing estate in the east of Singapore called Marine Parade.
Education
While many politicians in Singapore tend to graduate from top British universities such as Oxford or Cambridge, Mr Wong did not go to top schools. He went to what are considered normal local schools and in an interview said it was natural for him to study near home where his friends were.
Mr. Wong also majored in 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 from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Work process
Mr. Wong is a government academic and started his career as an economist at the Ministry of Commerce.
He has held some of the most important positions in Singapore's bureaucracy, including chief executive of the Energy Market Authority and the prestigious post of Private Assistant to the Prime Minister.
He entered politics in 2011 and was appointed to the board of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, or central bank, and later held the portfolios for culture, national development and education.
In 2020, he came into the spotlight as co-chair of the COVID-19 pandemic response task force and won popularity for his calm demeanor in explaining tough pandemic restrictions to Singaporeans.
Mr. Wong was appointed finance minister in 2021. In 2022, he was appointed deputy prime minister and successor to Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, after winning the support of his colleagues. He will serve as chairman of the central bank's board from 2023.
Personal life
Wong’s social media is filled with videos of him playing the guitar. He is a music lover, having received a guitar from his father at the age of 8. He also describes himself as a bookworm and a dog lover.
Mr. Wong was married in his 20s and is now divorced. The identity of his ex-wife is not widely known.
Mr. Wong is now remarried. His wife, Ms. Loo Tze Lui, works in asset management and the couple has no children.
