Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be running for president in the upcoming election.
He said in a letter today to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong:
“I wish to inform you that I have decided to put myself forward as a candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. I hence wish to retire from politics and all my positions in Government.”
This means that Mr Tharman will step aside from politics after 22 years.
He will resign from the PAP and step down from his posts as Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies on 7 Jul.
Replying to Mr Tharman’s letter, PM Lee said that he accepted his resignation and thanked him for his service to Singapore.
“Your departure from the Cabinet and the Party will be a heavy loss to me and my team. We will miss your leadership, insightful views, and wise counsel.”
PM Lee added:
“But I understand why you have decided to make this move and run for President. It is in keeping with the spirit of public service and sense of duty that you have shown all these years.”
