SINGAPORE - Singapore's former deputy prime minister Tony Tan, 71, was declared the city-state's newly elected president early today after the government's preferred candidate had to overcome a stunning challenge by a political maverick.
Widely perceived as the man to beat in the nonpartisan election, Tan won 35.19 percent of the votes in a ballot that was seen as a further test of support for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's People's Action Party (PAP).
Tony Tan held a slight edge of 7,269 votes over Tan Cheng Bock, 71, a medical doctor and former PAP legislator, said the elections department.
His closest rival ended up with 34.85 percent of the votes, while two other presidential hopefuls went out of the race earlier.
Political observers said the result was sobering for all parties.
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Tan won a six-year term as head of state and will succeed outgoing President SR Nathan, 87.
Although Singapore presidents have a largely ceremonial role and act mainly on the advice of the Cabinet, the presidential race turned out to be unexpectedly fierce.
The ballot followed a heated campaign with calls for stronger checks on the PAP, which has ruled Singapore with a firm hand since 1959.
Of all four contenders, Tony Tan was the one with the closest ties to the PAP as he served as minister at the helm of key portfolios like education, finance and defense.
His performance in the polls was watched as a yardstick of voter discontent with the PAP government, which was punished at the polls in May over the handling of hot topics like the influx of foreigners and rising costs of living.
