Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam (Photo: straitstimes.com)Singapore (VNA) – The presidential election inSingapore will be pushed back to September to avoid the campaigningperiod coinciding with National Day celebrations in August.
Minister in the Singaporean Prime Minister’sOffice Chan Chun Sing made the announcement in the parliament on February 6during the second reading of the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill,adding that the date revision does not require changes to the law.
He said the Government is announcing changesearly for transparency and prospective candidates can be aware of the changes.
The voting for a new president has typicallybeen held in August to ensure the process falls within the term of the sittingPresident, which ends on August 31.
In 2011, for example, the Writ for Election wasissued in the first week of August. Chan said the revised timing would ensurethe election is not held during celebrations of the National Day (August 9).
For the upcoming election, he said theGovernment will issue a writ in the later part of August, before President TonyTan Keng Yam’s term expires.
The Constitution of Singapore allows an actingPresident to assume office from the end of the incumbent President’s term untila new President takes office. This will be the Chairman of the Council ofPresidential Advisers or the Speaker of Parliament.-VNA
VNA
