section_path: Prime Minister (2024–present)
section_name: Prime Minister (2024–present)
paragraph_text: Prime Minister (2024–present)
  
  Wong subsequently emerged as Lee's apparent successor to the position of prime minister; the latter's initial plan to step down at the age of 70 had been complicated by Heng's withdrawal. On 15 April 2024, the Prime Minister's Office issued a press statement confirming that Lawrence Wong would succeed Lee Hsien Loong as prime minister.
  
  Wong was officially sworn in at 20:00 local time on 15 May at The Istana. He became the country's fourth prime minister, as well as the first to be born after Singapore's independence in 1965.
  
  At his swearing-in ceremony, during his first speech as Prime Minister, Wong stated "This is my promise to all Singaporeans: I will serve you with all my heart. I will never settle for the status quo. I will always seek better ways to make tomorrow better than today." He also stated that his mission as Prime Minister was "to continue defying the odds and to sustain this miracle called Singapore." On 12 June 2024, it was announced that Gan Kim Yong had taken over as Chairman of the Economic Development Board's International Advisory Council since 1 June from Wong, who previously took over from Tharman in July 2023. On 4 December 2024, he was elected as the Secretary-General of People's Action Party.