section_path: Political career/Deputy Prime Minister
section_name: Deputy Prime Minister
paragraph_text: Deputy Prime Minister
  
  On 14 April 2022, Wong was selected as the leader of the PAP's fourth-generation (4G) team, succeeding Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who had stepped down as 4G leader on 8 April 2021. Prior to his appointment, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delegated former PAP chairman Khaw Boon Wan to initiate a consultation process among the fourth-generation ministers of the Cabinet, aimed at garnering their individual views regarding the selection of a new 4G leader. Lee and Senior Ministers Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Teo Chee Hean abstained from participating in the process.
  
  Wong received an "overwhelming majority" of support in the consultation process, surpassing that of Ong Ye Kung and Chan Chun Sing, his cabinet colleagues and co-contestants in the 4G leadership race. He received 15 out of the 19 votes from the stakeholders polled, and as no candidate is allowed to vote for himself, this meant that only three other individuals did not vote for him as their first choice. His candidature was unanimously endorsed by the Cabinet and subsequently, by the PAP MPs at a party caucus on 14 April. His appointment was announced by Prime Minister Lee in a Facebook post the same day.
  
  On 6 June 2022, a Cabinet reshuffle was announced where Wong was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister, which further cemented his position as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong 's successor. In addition to becoming Deputy Prime Minister, he was also named "Acting Prime Minister" in Lee's absence. He had also taken over responsibility of the Strategy Group in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) from Heng Swee Keat. On 28 June 2022, Wong launched the "Forward Singapore" movement as part of his vision for a society that "benefits many, not a few". The Forward Singapore report was released on 27 October 2023. Following the resignation of former Senior Minister and current President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Wong was appointed to several positions such as Chair of the GIC Investment Strategies Committee, Chair of the EDB International Advisory Council until his subsequent relinquishment of the Chairmanship to Gan Kim Yong and Deputy Chairman of the GIC. On 5 November 2023, Lee Hsien Loong announced that he handover the premiership to Wong by November 2024, before the next general election, "if all goes well". He eventually succeeded Lee in May 2024.