President of Singapore

President of the
Republic of Singapore

*Presiden Republik Singapura* (Malay)
新加坡共和国总统 (Chinese)
சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசின் தலைவர் (Tamil)
President of the; Republic of Singapore ; Presiden Republik Singapura (Malay) ; 新加坡共和国总统 (Chinese) ; சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசின் தலைவர் (Tamil) ;
	Presidential Flag
	Incumbent; Tharman Shanmugaratnam; since 14 September 2023
Style	Mister President (informal); His Excellency (formal, diplomatic)
Residence	Istana
Appointer	Elected by Parliament (1965–1991); Direct election ; (since 1991)
Term length	6 years; renewable
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Singapore, Article 17
Inaugural holder	Yusof Ishak
Formation	9 August 1965
Salary	S$1,680,000 annually
Website	istana.gov.sg

The President of the Republic of Singapore is the country's head of state. Singapore has a parliamentary system of government. Executive authority is exercised by the Cabinet who was led by the Prime Minister of Singapore. The current president is Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was elected with the 70% of the vote at the 2023 presidential election.

The president's official residence and office is the Istana. However, no presidents since Yusof bin Ishak (1965–1970) have lived there.^[1] The current president, Halimah Yacob, had wanted to stay in the HDB flat at Yishun, but if she fails to comply with the security requirements, she will have to move out. She is also the first female President of Singapore and first Malay head of state in 47 years since the death of Mr Yusof bin Ishak who was Singapore's first president.

List of presidents

No.	Portrait	President	Prior Office	Term of office			Elected
No.	Portrait	President	Prior Office	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Elected
1		Yusof Ishak^[2] 尤索夫·宾·伊萨 யூசோஃப் பின் இஷாக் يوسف بن إسحاق	Yang di-Pertuan Negara	9 August 1965	23 November 1970 ^{[n 1]}	5 years, 106 days	Elected by Parliament
During this interval, the Speaker of Parliament, Yeoh Ghim Seng, was installed by Parliament as Acting President.					40 days		—
2		Benjamin Sheares^[2] 本杰明·薛尔思 பெஞ்சமின் ஹென்றி ஷியர்ஸ்	Physician (general practitioner)	2 January 1971	12 May 1981 ^{[n 1]}	10 years, 131 days	Elected by Parliament
During this interval, Speaker of Parliament, Yeoh Ghim Seng* was installed by Parliament as Acting President.*					165 days		—
3		C.V. Devan Nair^[2] சி.வி தேவன் நாயர் 琴加拉·维蒂尔·德万·奈尔	Member of Parliament for Anson	23 October 1981	28 March 1985 ^{[n 2]}	3 years, 157 days	Elected by Parliament
During this interval, Chief Justice '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-00000010-QINU`"'Wee Chong Jin* was installed by Parliament as Acting President.*					2 days		—
During this interval, Speaker of Parliament, Yeoh Ghim Seng* was installed by Parliament as Acting President.*					158 days		—
4		Wee Kim Wee^[2] 黄金辉 வீ கிம் வீ	Ambassador to South Korea	2 September 1985	1 September 1993 ^{[n 3]}	8 years	Elected by Parliament
5		Ong Teng Cheong^[2] 王鼎昌 ஓங் டெங் சியோங்	Deputy Prime Minister	1 September 1993	31 August 1999	6 years	1993
6		S. R. Nathan^[3] 塞拉潘·纳丹 செல்லப்பன் ராமனாதன்	Ambassador to the United States	1 September 1999 ^{[n 4]}	31 August 2005	12 years	1999
6		S. R. Nathan^[3] 塞拉潘·纳丹 செல்லப்பன் ராமனாதன்	Ambassador to the United States	1 September 2005 ^{[n 4]}	31 August 2011	12 years	2005
7		Tony Tan Keng Yam 陈庆炎 டோனி டான் கெங் யாம்	Deputy Prime Minister	1 September 2011	31 August 2017	6 years	2011
During this interval, the Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers, J. Y. Pillay, served as Acting President.^[4]					15 days		—
8		Halimah Yacob 哈莉玛·雅各布 ஹலிமா பின்தி யாகொப் حليمه بنت يعقوب	Speaker of Parliament	14 September 2017	13 September 2023	5 years, 364 days	2017
9		Tharman Shanmugaratnam தர்மன் சண்முகரத்னம்	Deputy Prime Minister	14 September 2023	Incumbent	173 days	2023

Notes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Died in office of natural causes.
↑ Resigned.
↑ After the Constitution was amended in 1991, the term of President Wee was fixed to end on 1 September 1993.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 S.R. Nathan was returned unopposed on Nomination Day in 1999 and 2005.

References

↑ "Security stepped up at President-elect Halimah's Yishun housing block". Today. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 Former Presidents, Istana Singapore: Office of the President of the Republic of Singapore, 28 April 2006, archived from the original on 1 August 2008, retrieved 24 January 2009.
↑ President S R Nathan, Istana Singapore: Office of the President of the Republic of Singapore, 4 May 2006, archived from the original on 22 August 2008, retrieved 24 January 2009.
↑ Elgin Toh (1 September 2017), "Pillay takes on role of acting president: CPA chairman will fill post until after Polling Day on Sept 23, or Nomination Day on Sept 13", The Straits Times, p. A9.

[died-3] 1.0 ^1.1 Died in office of natural causes.

[resigned-4] Resigned.

[amended-5] After the Constitution was amended in 1991, the term of President Wee was fixed to end on 1 September 1993.

[unopposed-7] 4.0 ^4.1 S.R. Nathan was returned unopposed on Nomination Day in 1999 and 2005.

[1] "Security stepped up at President-elect Halimah's Yishun housing block". Today. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.

[Istana-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 Former Presidents, Istana Singapore: Office of the President of the Republic of Singapore, 28 April 2006, archived from the original on 1 August 2008, retrieved 24 January 2009.

[6] President S R Nathan, Istana Singapore: Office of the President of the Republic of Singapore, 4 May 2006, archived from the original on 22 August 2008, retrieved 24 January 2009.

[8] Elgin Toh (1 September 2017), "Pillay takes on role of acting president: CPA chairman will fill post until after Polling Day on Sept 23, or Nomination Day on Sept 13", The Straits Times, p. A9.

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