{
  "id": 16313469,
  "title": "PM Wong looks forward to team with ‘experience and fresh perspectives’ as PAP elects new leadership",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/pm-wong-looks-forward-to-team-with-experience-and-fresh-perspectives",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-24T10:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/pm-wong-looks-forward-to-team-with-experience-and-fresh-perspectives-as-pap-elects-new-leadership"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) is set to hold its biennial conference on October 25, marking an important occasion for party leadership renewal, according to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. In a video message posted on social media, Wong expressed his anticipation of working with a team that comprises both seasoned members and those with fresh perspectives, as they prepare the party for the work ahead. These remarks represent the initial insights from Wong, who concurrently serves as the party's secretary-general, regarding the potential makeup of the new leadership team, which may include fresh faces.\n\nThe conference, held every two years, serves as the platform for the party's internal election for its top leadership body, the Central Executive Committee (CEC). The party's cadre, numbering over 2,000, typically elects 12 candidates for the CEC, which subsequently co-opts the next two candidates with the highest vote counts. The CEC, which is usually expanded to a committee of 18 members, then assigns various roles, such as chairman and treasurer, among its members.\n\nWong highlighted that the new CEC will have the opportunity to include some of the PAP's 27 first-term MPs from the 2025 general election. This marks the initial chance for these MPs to be elected to the committee. Wong emphasized that this conference marks the first after Singapore's recent general election. At the first CEC meeting following the last conference in 2024, Wong assumed the role of party chief, thereby completing a generational transfer of power from Lee.\n\nThe party conference is scheduled to alternate yearly with the party's convention, where no voting takes place. During the 2025 party convention, Wong expressed his hope that the outline of the PAP's next generation of leaders would become apparent by the next general election, expected to be held by 2030. Wong noted that the conference provides a valuable opportunity for the ruling party to assess its past achievements and outline its priorities for the remainder of the term. Singaporeans had bestowed a strong mandate on the party, Wong pointed out, as the party secured 65.57% of the vote in the election, which was Wong's first as party chief. He pledged to deliver on the party's promises, confront forthcoming challenges, and work diligently to enhance the well-being of all Singaporeans.",
  "summary": "PM Wong said he looks forward to working with a team that brings experience as well as fresh perspectives.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}