Singapore's premier announces new Cabinet 2 weeks after election victory

ISTANBUL

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a new Cabinet on Wednesday, two weeks after the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) won the general elections in Singapore.

The Cabinet has three coordinating ministers and Gan Kim Yong as the sole deputy prime minister.

It includes 15 full ministers and two acting ministers in the Prime Minister’s Office, and 16 ministries.

Wong, Singapore’s fourth prime minister, remains finance minister, while he appointed nine new office heads, chosen from the backbench -- a member who is not a minister, minister of State or parliamentary secretary -- and from among first-term lawmakers, which he described as "one of the highest in recent history."

Wong said he has “a solid team behind" him.

The Cabinet marks the first time a complete team was assembled under Wong, after he replaced former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the founder of modern Singapore, in a carefully calibrated power transfer earlier in May.

PAP extended its unbroken six-decade rule, winning 87 out of 97 seats in parliament with 65.57% of the vote, clinching a 14th successive election victory May 3.