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Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore

Deputy head of Singaporean government


Deputy head of Singaporean government

FieldValue
postDeputy Prime Minister
bodythe
Republic of Singapore
insigniaCoat of arms of Singapore.svg
insigniasize100px
insigniacaptionCoat of arms of Singapore
flagFlag of Singapore.svg
flagcaptionFlag of Singapore
image200x200px
imagesize200
incumbentGan Kim Yong
incumbentsince15 May 2024
style{{plainlist
abbreviationDPM
appointerPrime Minister
termlength*At the President's pleasure*
formation
inauguralToh Chin Chye
salaryS$1,870,000 annually
(including S$192,500 MP salary)
website

Republic of Singapore

  • Deputy Prime Minister (informal)
  • The Honourable (formal)
  • His Excellency (diplomatic) (including S$192,500 MP salary)

The deputy prime minister of Singapore is the deputy head of government of the Republic of Singapore, and a key political ally of the prime minister. The incumbent deputy prime minister is Gan Kim Yong, an MP for Punggol Group Representation Constituency from the governing People's Action Party, who took office on 15 May 2024.

History

The office of deputy prime minister is the second highest position in the Cabinet of Singapore, typically held by senior ministers. At times, two individuals could serve simultaneously as deputy prime ministers. The officeholder is generally assigned specific duties by the prime minister, including deputising in the Parliament of Singapore. Additionally, the deputy prime minister often acts as prime minister during periods when the latter is abroad, on leave or incapacitated.

Established in 1959 with Singapore's attainment of self-governance from the British Empire, the first deputy prime minister was appointed by Yang di-Pertuan Negara William Goode. The position retained its title following Singapore's merger with the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak and North Borneo to form Malaysia, during which Singapore functioned as a autonomous federated state between 1963 and 1965. Toh Chin Chye was the inaugural officeholder, serving from 1959 to 1968. It was vacant from 1968 to 1973, when prime minister Lee Kuan Yew did not pick a deputy for his Third Cabinet after winning the 1968 Singaporean general election.

Two former deputy prime ministers of Singapore have subsequently been elected as President of Singapore. These include Ong Teng Cheong and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, both of whom transitioned from their deputy roles to the nation's head of state. Lawrence Wong assumed the office of deputy prime minister on 13 June 2022 but left the position on 15 May 2024 to become prime minister, making his tenure the shortest in the history of the office. His successor, Gan Kim Yong, took office on 15 May 2024 and continues to serve concurrently as Minister for Trade and Industry.

List of deputy prime ministers

Since its formation, all individuals who have held the position of Deputy Prime Minister have been members of the People's Action Party (PAP). ; Political parties

No.PortraitName
Constituency
(Birth–Death)Term of officePolitical partyCabinetTook officeLeft officeTime in officePeople's Action Party}}; color:white;"1People's Action Party}}; color:white;"2People's Action Party}}; color:white;"3People's Action Party}}; color:white;"4People's Action Party}}; color:white;"4People's Action Party}}; color:white;"5People's Action Party}}; color:white;"6People's Action Party}}; color:white;"7People's Action Party}}; color:white;"8People's Action Party}}; color:white;"9People's Action Party}}; color:white;"10People's Action Party}}; color:white;"11People's Action Party}}; color:white;"12People's Action Party}}; color:white;"13
[[File:3x4.svgframeless133x133px]]Toh Chin Chye
MP for Rochore
(1921–2012)5 June
19593 August
1968PAPLee K. ILee K. IILee K. III
*Vacant*
(4 August 1968 – 1 March 1973)Lee K. IIILee K. IV
[[File:Goh Keng Swee, 1948.pngframeless148x148px]]Goh Keng Swee
MP for Kreta Ayer
(1918–2010)1 March
19731 January
1985PAPLee K. IVLee K. VLee K. VI
S. Rajaratnam
MP for Kampong Glam
(1915–2006)1 June
19801 January
1985Lee K. VLee K. VI
[[File:GohChokTong-WashingtonDC-20010614.jpg141x141px]]Goh Chok Tong
MP for Marine Parade SMC (until 1988) and Marine Parade GRC (from 1988)
(born 1941)2 January
198528 November
1990Lee K. VIILee K. VIII
[[File:Ong_Teng_Cheong.jpg157x157px]]Ong Teng Cheong
MP for Kim Keat SMC (until 1991) and Toa Payoh GRC (from 1991)
(1936–2002)2 January
19851 September
1993Lee K. VIILee K. VIIIGoh IGoh II
[[File:Lee Hsien Loong - 20101112.jpg150x150px]]Lee Hsien Loong
MP for Teck Ghee SMC (until 1991) and Ang Mo Kio GRC (from 1991)
(born 1952)28 November
199012 August
2004Goh IGoh IIGoh IIIGoh IV
[[File:Tony_Tan_Keng_Yam_cropp.jpg133x133px]]Tony Tan
MP for Sembawang GRC
(born 1940)1 August
19951 September
2005Goh IIGoh IIIGoh IVLee H. I
[[File:Jayakumar_(1).jpg150x150px]]S. Jayakumar
MP for East Coast GRC
(born 1939)12 August
20041 April
2009Lee H. ILee H. II
[[File:WongKanSeng-20060314.jpg133x133px]]Wong Kan Seng
MP for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
(born 1946)1 September
200521 May
2011
[[File:Teo_Chee_Hean_2.jpg127x127px]]Teo Chee Hean
MP for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC
(born 1954)1 April
200930 April
2019Lee H. IILee H. IIILee H. IV
[[File:Tharman Shanmugaratnam Official photo 2023.tif139x139px]]Tharman Shanmugaratnam
MP for Jurong GRC
(born 1957)21 May
201130 April
2019Lee H. IIILee H. IV
[[File:Heng_Swee_Keat.jpgframeless130x130px]]Heng Swee Keat
MP for Tampines GRC (until 2020) and East Coast GRC (from 2020)
(born 1961)1 May
201923 May
2025Lee H. IVLee H. VWong I
[[File:Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong 250530-D-PM193-4275 (2025).jpg133x133px]]Lawrence Wong
MP for Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC
(born 1972)13 June
202214 May
2024Lee H. V
[[File:Gan Kim Yong, 2022 (cropped).jpgframeless133x133px]]Gan Kim Yong
MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC (until 2025) and Punggol GRC (from 2025)
(born 1959)15 May
2024Incumbent{{ayd2024515}}Wong IWong II

References

  1. (30 December 2021). "Toh Chin Chye". [[National Heritage Board (Singapore).
  2. (30 August 1993). "Singaporeans Choose First Elected President". [[Reuters]].
  3. (1 September 2023). "Singapore’s Former Deputy Premier Tharman Wins Presidency by a Landslide". [[Bloomberg L.P..
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