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A distinguished economist and former Deputy Prime Minister, Indian origin Tharman Shanmugaratnam gets elected as country’s new President.
He comfortably secured victory in the city-state’s first contested vote for the largely ceremonial position. Easily one of the most qualified citizens of the city-state, he was born to the Tamil ancestors from the Singaporean Indian community that forms nine percent of the voter base.
“My fellow Singaporeans, I am truly humbled by the strong endorsement you have given me in our nation’s presidential election. My fellow candidates put full effort and energy into their campaigns, and made this a worthy contest. I thank and commend them,” Mr Shanmugaratnam posted on Facebook.
Born on Feb 25 of 1957, he is married to Jane Yumiko Ittogi, a Singaporean lawyer of mixed Chinese Japanese ancestry. The couple have one daughter and three sons.
He will take over after incumbent President Halimah Yacob’s six year tenure comes to end.
