Indian-origin Tharman Shanmugaratnam wins Singapore's Presidential election

Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, emerged victorious in the city-state's recent presidential election, as officially announced on Friday. This election marked the first contested race for the predominantly ceremonial role in over ten years. The Elections Department confirmed Tharman's win, with the 66-year-old economist securing an impressive 70.4 percent of the total votes cast, surpassing his two rival candidates.

"I declare Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam as the candidate duly elected as the president of Singapore," said election returning officer Tan Meng Dui.

Mr Shanmugaratnam takes over from the previous officeholder, Halimah Yacob, who faced no competition during her six-year term in 2017.

"I believe that it's a vote of confidence in Singapore. It's a vote of optimism for a future in which we can progress together," Mr Shanmugaratnam said in a speech before the results were announced.

The position in question comes with strict requirements as it formally supervises the city's accumulated financial reserves and wields the authority to both veto specific measures and endorse investigations into corruption.

Observers have noted that Tharman Shanmugaratnam's victory represents a significant advantage for the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), as his candidacy is widely perceived to align with the party's preferences.

The PAP, which has maintained continuous governance in Singapore since 1959, has been facing challenges due to an unusual series of political controversies leading up to the presidential election.

Mr Shanmugaratnam, a former finance minister, had a long-standing association with the PAP before he chose to step down from his position and contest the non-partisan role of president.

During the campaign, concerns were raised about his impartiality due to his prior affiliations with the government.