Editing People's Action Party (section)

==Leadership transitions==
The longtime governing party of [[Singapore]], spans both past and present, but notably occurred in the mid-1980s where the first generation of PAP leaders in the [[Central Executive Committee (PAP)|CEC]] and the [[Cabinet of Singapore]] ceded power to a second generation of leaders.

===First to second generation===
By 1984, the "old guard" (first generation of party leaders) had been governing Singapore for approximately a quarter of a century. Aging leadership was a key concern, and then-Prime Minister of Singapore [[Lee Kuan Yew]] sought to groom younger leaders. In a speech on 29 September 1984, Lee argued that though the first generation of leaders was still "alert and fully in charge", to hang on to power until they had become feeble would allow power to be wrested from them, with no say in who their successors were.<ref name=quah>{{cite journal|last=Quah|first=Jon|title=Singapore in 1984: Leadership Transition in an Election Year|journal=Asian Survey|year=1985|volume=25|issue=2|page=225|jstor=2644306|doi=10.2307/2644306
}}</ref>

On 30 September, at the Ordinary Party Conference, power was transferred to the second generation of leaders, who were elected to the [[Central Executive Committee (PAP)|Central Executive Committee]] in place of all the old CEC members; of the 14-member CEC, Lee Kuan Yew remained the only "old guard" leader.<ref name=quah />

According to a report to the [[Library of Congress]], the old guard were confident in their "rectitude" and discretion in using their extensive political powers for Singapore's common good, but were not as confident in the next generation in doing so. Various limits on executive power were considered, in order to minimise the chances of corruption. These included a [[presidential elections in Singapore|popularly elected]] [[President of Singapore]] with substantial, nonceremonial powers.<ref name=locsuccession>{{cite web|last=LePoer|first=Barbara|title=Key political issues - Succession|url=http://countrystudies.us/singapore/53.htm|work=Countrystudies|publisher=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref> This particular reform was enacted with a constitutional amendment in 1991.

The old guard also sought to eschew the use of PAP as a central political institution, seeking to "depoliticise" and disperse power among society, and sought to include low-level community leaders in government. A policy of cross-fertilisation was enacted: exchange of leaders, "elites" and talent would take place between private and government sectors, civilian and military segments of society, and between the party and the [[National Trades Union Congress]] (NTUC).<ref name=locsuccession />

===Second to third generation===
The next generation of leaders in the late 1980s was split between the factions of then [[Brigadier General]] [[Lee Hsien Loong]] and the older, more-experienced [[Goh Chok Tong]]. Lee Hsien Loong was supported by bureaucrats in the [[Ministry of Defence (Singapore)|Ministry of Defence]] and army colleagues in the [[Singapore Armed Forces]];<ref name=locsuccession /> [[Goh Chok Tong]] had more influence in the [[Singapore Civil Service]], the Cabinet and [[State-owned enterprise|government-linked companies]].<ref name=rworthington>{{cite book|last=Worthington|first=Ross|title=Governance in Singapore|year=2002|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-7007-1474-2|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/070071474X/?keywords=slapped&v=search-inside}}</ref>

Lee Kuan Yew himself remained Prime Minister and in the CEC until 1990, when he stepped down in favour of Goh Chok Tong as PM. [[Lee Hsien Loong]] became PM in 2004.

===Third to fourth generation===
On 23 November 2018, two fourth-generation leadership members (then–[[Ministry of Finance (Singapore)|Minister for Finance]] [[Heng Swee Keat]] and then–[[Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore)|Minister for Trade and Industry]] [[Chan Chun Sing]]) were elected as the First and Second Assistant Secretaries-General; these were, respectively, the second- and third-highest positions in the party. They replaced [[Teo Chee Hean]] and [[Tharman Shanmugaratnam]]. This represented a significant step of the leadership transition from the third generation to the fourth generation.

On 1 May 2019, Heng Swee Keat was appointed the new and sole Deputy Prime Minister, replacing Teo and Tharman. He was then widely seen as the 4th and next [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]] and Secretary-General of PAP succeeding incumbent [[Lee Hsien Loong]]. However, on 8 April 2021, Heng unexpectedly announced he would step down as the fourth-generation leader and step aside to pave the way for younger and healthier leaders to take over leadership, citing his health and age as reasons. Several Cabinet members were then seen as possible candidates to succeed Heng, including Minister for Finance [[Lawrence Wong]], Minister for Health [[Ong Ye Kung]], and Minister for Education [[Chan Chun Sing]].{{cn|date=April 2025}}

On 14 April 2022, Wong was selected as new leader of PAP's fourth-generation (4G) team, succeeding Heng.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/lawrence-wong-prime-minister-4g-leader-lee-hsien-loong-announcement-2626176 |title= Finance Minister Lawrence Wong endorsed as leader of 4G team: PM Lee |work=ChannelNewsAsia |location= Singapore |date=14 April 2022}}</ref> Wong received an "overwhelming majority" of support in the consultation process, surpassing that of other nominees.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/singapore-pm-lee-signals-lawrence-wong-becomes-new-successor |title=Singapore PM Lee Signals Lawrence Wong Becomes New Successor |website=www.bloombergquint.com |date=14 April 2022}}</ref> His candidacy was unanimously endorsed by the cabinet and subsequently by the PAP [[Member of parliament|MPs]] at a party caucus on 14 April.<ref name= "Wong">{{Cite news |url= https://sg.news.yahoo.com/lawrence-wong-endorsed-as-leader-of-singapores-pap-4-g-team-104721122.html |title=Lawrence Wong selected as leader of Singapore's PAP 4G team: PM Lee |website=sg.news.yahoo.com |date=14 April 2022}}</ref> On 4 December 2024, he was elected Secretary-General of People's Action Party, with an endorsement from Lee Hsien Loong.<ref>{{Cite news |title= Orderly transitions in political leadership cannot be taken for granted: SM Lee in last speech as PAP chief |url= https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/lee-hsien-loong-pap-secretary-general-leadership-transition-lawrence-wong-handover-4767291 |date=24 November 2024 |work=ChannelNewsAsia |location= Singapore |first=Vanessa |last=Lim}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=PAP announces new central executive committee; Lawrence Wong officially elected secretary-general |url= https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/pap-cec-lawrence-wong-secretary-general-four-co-opted-4786521 |date=4 December 2024 |work=ChannelNewsAsia |location= Singapore}}</ref>