Govt White Paper: Proposed changes to elected presidency scheme

SINGAPORE — In a White Paper released on Thursday (Sept 15), the Government detailed its proposed changes to the Elected Presidency following a review of certain aspects of the office by a Constitutional Commission. Here's a summary of the  key proposals:

1) Minority representation:

A “hiatus-triggered” safeguard mechanism where presidential elections will be reserved for a particular minority race which has not been represented in the office for five consecutive terms.

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2) Council of Presidential Advisers:

i) President to be obliged to consult the CPA on all fiscal matters related to Singapore’s reserves and all matters regarding key public service appointments. 

ii) Existing threshold for Parliamentary override to be retained, contrary to Constitutional Commission’s recommendation to calibrate it according to the level of support among the council for the President’s decision.

iii) Publication of President’s opinion when veto is exercised: Opinon will be published on matters concerning Supply Bills, Supplementary Supplies Bill and Final Supply Bills are concerned but not on other areas, including appointment-related and fiscal matters. 

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3) Eligibility criteria:

Private-sector qualifying office -

i) Candidate must have held the “most senior executive position” in the company.

ii) Company must have at least S$500 million in shareholders’ equity, based on applicant’s most recent three years in the qualifying office.

iii) It must also have a record of net profitability during entire period of office and did not undergo any insolvency process within three years of applicant ceasing to hold office. 

Public-sector qualifying office -

i) Accountant-General and Auditor-General to be retained on list of qualifying offices, contrary to commission’s recommendations to remove these offices.

Qualifying tenure -

i) Length retained at three years, contrary to commission’s recommendation to double it to six years.

ii) Required to fall wholly or partly within 20 years of Presidential Election, contrary to commission’s recommendation of 15 years. 

Presidential Elections Committee -

Three members to be added: A legal expert nominated by Chief Justice, past-CPA member nominated by CPA chair, and private sector nominee put up by the Prime Minister. 

4) Entrenchment framework: 

i) For provisions establishing the Elected Presidency scheme as well as the framework itself, amendments not supported by the President in agreement with the CPA will be put to a referendum, if the Government wants to override the veto.

ii) Changes to other provisions including those that deal with operational details will be accorded greater flexibility.