A former member of Singapore’s ruling social gathering on Saturday received the race to change into the city-state’s president, in a election seen as a barometer of public sentiment on the federal government’s efficiency amid financial challenges and a streak of high-profile scandals.

Former deputy prime minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 66, received 70.4% of votes, the elections division mentioned, to change into Singapore’s head of state. The nation is a parliamentary democracy and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is the top of presidency.

Tharman has been a well-liked politician, having scored a number of landslide victories in parliamentary elections, together with the largest margin of votes within the normal election in 2020 as a PAP member.

He resigned from the social gathering earlier this 12 months and emphasised his independence throughout his marketing campaign for the presidency.