Singapore’s next presidential election must be called by September this year, Minister-in-charge of the public service Chan Chun Sing said in a written response to Parliament on Wednesday (10 May).
This is due to incumbent President Halimah Yacob’s six-year term expiring in that month.
Around 50 public service positions may also fulfil requirements to run in the presidential election, he added.
According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), Mr Chan said on 10 May that the presidential election must be called by 13 Sep, which is when Madam Halimah’s six-year term will expire.
Source: Halimah Yacob on Facebook
It will be open to candidates of all races. This is in contrast to the reserved election in 2017 where only candidates from the Malay community could contest.
A Presidential Elections Committee will select which candidates are able to run in the election.
The committee consists of members such as chairpersons of the Public Service Commission and Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.
Mr Chan added that around 50 public service positions may fulfil the public sector service requirement to take part in the election, The Straits Times (ST) reports.
Under these requirements, presidential candidates must have held office as a minister, chief justice, Speaker of the House, attorney-general, permanent secretary or others for at least three years.
Meanwhile, private sector presidential candidates must have served at least three years as chief executive of a firm with an average of S$500 million in shareholders’ equity.
“There are more than 1,200 companies with average shareholders’ equity at or exceeding S$500 million,” he said.
Chief executives of key statutory boards or government-owned companies such as Temasek will qualify as well.
To contest in the election, potential candidates must convince the committee that they have “integrity, good character and reputation.”
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