S1E1: Tharman’s win shows voters did not treat PE2023 as referendum on PAP

Voters looked past the issues plaguing the ruling People's Action Party in recent months.

Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s landslide victory in the 2023 Presidential Election on Sept 1 despite his political background and affiliation to the ruling People’s Action Party till recently.

Mr Tharman secured 70.4 per cent of the ballot. Former GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song received 15.72 per cent of the vote, while Mr Tan Kin Lian, the former chief executive of NTUC Income, received 13.88 per cent.

It showed voters focused on Mr Tharman's credentials and who they thought would best represent Singapore on the world stage, as raised in this discussion between ST's multimedia correspondent Hairianto Diman and deputy news editor Grace Ho.

With President Halimah Yacob’s six-year term ending on Sept 13, Mr Tharman will be sworn in as president at the Istana on Sept 14.

Read Grace Ho's commentary: https://str.sg/iS97 

Produced by: ST Video

Edited by: Paxton Pang

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