Indian-born Shanmugaratnam will run for president in Singapore
Indian-origin Tharman Shanmugaratnam, along with two former executives of government-linked companies of Chinese origin, have successfully met the qualifications to participate in Singapore’s upcoming presidential election on September 1. The Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) received a total of six applications for the Certificate of Eligibility by the deadline of Thursday, as reported by the Elections Department (ELD).
This decision was prompted by concerns expressed in the 2016 Report of the Constitutional Commission, which highlighted the potential discouragement of potential candidates due to fears of embarrassment.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was born in Singapore and has Indian origins, had announced his intention to participate in the presidential election in June. This move comes after dedicating 22 years to active involvement in the country’s politics. Before his political career, Tharman served as an economist and civil servant at the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
