One of the criteria required for private sector candidates was for three years to manage a company with a minimum capital of S $ 500 million (€ 310 million).

Halima Yaqub, 63, was nominated to the presidency in August 2017 after resigning from the post of speaker of parliament in 2013.

The executive branch is led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, a member of the ruling People's Action Party (PPP) since 1959.

It is the first time a member of the Malay minority has been in office since the constitutional reform in 2016 to ensure greater participation of national and religious minorities. Chinese nationalism is the largest in Singapore. But it is not the first time to exclude unqualified candidates and the position will be filled by acclamation.

"Although I was not elected, my commitment to serve you has not changed," said Halima Yacoub. Halima Yacoub is the mother of five children and will begin her duties Thursday for six years.

Her appointment sparked criticism of social networking sites. "I was elected without an election, a farce," wrote Pat Wang on Facebook. "From now on, I will call it the" privileged president, "Gul said.