The Singapore Presidential Elections this year could be a multi-cornered fight. Singapore\u2019s presidential hopefuls former Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, businessman George Goh and former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song are throwing their hats into the ring, with neither side backing down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former NTUC Income CEO Tan Kin Lian has also said that he will participate in this year\u2019s presidential election. Taking a look at the presidential hopefuls in 2023, there is a broader spectrum with contenders from both the public and private sectors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nomination day will be on August 22, 2023, and Singaporeans will go to the polls on September 1, 2023, if more than one person qualifies to run for the presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Becoming the president of Singapore comes with certain conditions, including not being convicted of an offence by a court in Singapore or any foreign country<\/a> and not being an undischarged bankrupt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For private sector candidates, the qualification criteria are somewhat more financially driven. For example, the candidate must have served as chief executive of a company that must have, on average, at least S$500m shareholders\u2019 equity during the person\u2019s most recent three-year period of service (as chief executive). <\/p>\n\n\n\n This perhaps alludes to the fact that the President of Singapore is a custodian of the wealthy country\u2019s past reserves, and one must be highly competent in handling large sums. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The president is the country\u2019s head of state and holds an office term of six years. The president has two important roles: <\/p>\n\n\n\n When Singapore became an independent nation on August 9, 1965, the seat of the Head of State was renamed the Office of the President. The country\u2019s first four presidents, who held office between 1965 and 1993, were appointed by parliament. The first presidential election was held on August 28, 1993. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A person is qualified to be a candidate for election as president if he or she: <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also requirements that a candidate for election as president need to fulfil to qualify and it is different for those who have public sector service records compared with private sector work experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The public sector service requirement includes for the person to have: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The details to be eligible to be a candidate for election under the private sector service requirement is comprehensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The person has to have served as the chief executive of a company and has met the following four criteria: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The other qualification guidelines are that the person must have: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Under both the public sector service requirement and private sector service requirement, the terms are defined as such: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The details on how to calculate and determine shareholders\u2019 equity and profit after tax, and on what constitutes an insolvency event, are set out in Part 3<\/a> of the Presidential Elections (Certificate of Eligibility) Regulations 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some conditions include converting shareholder equity as well as profit after tax to Singapore dollars in accordance with Singapore Accounting Standards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also certain conditions set before a person can contest as a presidential candidate and one can be disqualified on Nomination Day if he or she:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prime minister issues a Writ of Election to the Returning Officer to direct him to hold an election. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A presidential election must be held within six months after the office of the president is vacant and prior to the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent. It must also be held not more than three months before the incumbent president\u2019s term of office expires. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Are Reserved Elections<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n A special reserved election will be held if no president was elected from a certain community (e.g. Chinese, Malay, or Indian and other minority communities) for any of the last five terms of office. This is to ensure multi-racial representation in the presidency.\u00a0For example, Madam Halimah Yacob was a participant of the reserved election.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n An open election will be held if no candidate is nominated successfully at a reserved election. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Notice Of Election<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Prospective candidates who wish to contest in the Presidential elections must submit applications to the PEC and Community Committee. The deadline for submission of the community declaration and applying for the Certificate of Eligibility is five days after the Writ of Election is issued. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Prospective candidates are required to submit their nomination papers and certificates to the Returning Officer (RO), in duplicate and in person, at the nomination centre between 11am and 12 noon, accompanied by their proposer, seconder and at least four assentors.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where more than one candidate stands nominated, the RO will adjourn the election to a date when a poll will be taken (Polling Day). The RO will allot to each candidate an approved symbol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If only one candidate stands nominated when the nomination period closes, the RO will declare the nominated candidate elected to the Office of the President.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Role Of Singapore\u2019s President<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Qualifications For The Office Of The President<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Are The Private Sector Requirements To Be An Eligible Presidential Candidate<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How A Candidate Can Be Disqualified For Election As President During Nomination Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When Is A Presidential Election Held<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Happens During Nomination Day<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Elections, Campaigning, Cooling Off Day And Polling Day<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n