Singapore, Singapore- Inihalal bilang presidente ang dating deputy prime minister ng Sinagapore na si Tharman Shanmugaratnam, nitong Biyernes, sa landslide victory sa unang contested vote ng city-state sa loob ng mahigit isang dekada.
“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 and support each other as Singaporeans,” anang former finance minister sa kanyang talumpati bago ianunsyo ang resulta.
“I’m humbled by this vote. It is not just a vote for me, it is a vote for Singapore’s future.”
Nanalo siya ng 70.4 porsyento ng boto para sa six-year term.
Si Ng Kok Song ang kanyang katunggali, dating chief investment officer ng Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, na nangangasiwa sa foreign reserves ng bansa, na nag-concede matapos manalo ng 15.7 porsyento ng boto.
“The result is clear,” aniya at sinabing si Shanmugaratnam “has indeed earned a mandate from the people of Singapore.”
Kinilala ni Shanmugaratnam ang “changing and evolving” nature ng Singapore, partikular ang diversity nito, at sinabing naniniwala siya na nakikita ang eleksyon ay nagsisilbing “another milestone in that process of evolution.”
Papalitan niya sa pagka-presidente si incumbent Halimah Yacob, na kumandidato nang walang katunggali para sa six-year term noong 2017. RNT/SA
