section_path: Leadership transitions/Third to fourth generation
section_name: Third to fourth generation
paragraph_text: Third to fourth generation
  
  On 23 November 2018, two fourth-generation leadership members (then– Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat and then– 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 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.
  
  On 14 April 2022, Wong was selected as new leader of PAP's fourth-generation (4G) team, succeeding Heng. Wong received an "overwhelming majority" of support in the consultation process, surpassing that of other nominees. His candidacy was unanimously endorsed by the cabinet and subsequently by the PAP MPs at a party caucus on 14 April. On 4 December 2024, he was elected Secretary-General of People's Action Party, with an endorsement from Lee Hsien Loong.