Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has nominated Seah Kian Peng for reelection as Speaker of Parliament when the 15th Parliament reconvenes on 5 September 2025. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on 20 June.
Seah, Member of Parliament for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, has served as Speaker since 2023. His nomination will be subject to formal election by Members of Parliament (MPs) when the House meets.
In the same statement, the PMO confirmed the reappointment of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah as Leader of the House. Senior Minister of State for Defence and Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad will continue as Deputy Leader of the House.
Prime Minister Wong conveyed his nominations in a letter to the Clerk of Parliament, the top official supporting parliamentary operations. In his communication, Wong stated the Government will propose Seah’s reelection and reaffirmed the designations of Indranee and Zaqy to their respective roles.
In a Facebook post on 20 June, Wong praised Seah’s stewardship since 2023, noting his “steady hand and thoughtful leadership.”
He stated, “He has presided over our debates with fairness and ensured that proceedings are conducted with dignity and decorum.”
The roles of Speaker and Leader of the House, while nominated by the Prime Minister, differ in terms of formal appointment. The Speaker must be elected by Parliament, while the Leader is appointed directly.
The Speaker presides over parliamentary sittings, maintains order, and ensures procedural adherence. The Speaker also determines who may speak and poses questions for debate and vote. Beyond Parliament, the Speaker represents the House in its external relations and during ceremonial events.
The Leader of the House, meanwhile, manages Government business and legislative scheduling. This includes moving procedural motions and overseeing debates on national issues. The Leader may also respond to MPs’ conduct and ensure debate proceedings are aligned with House protocol.
Indranee has held the role of Leader of the House since 2020, taking over from Grace Fu. She is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development and MP for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC.
Seah’s initial election as Speaker followed the resignation of his predecessor Tan Chuan-Jin in 2023. Tan stepped down after revelations of an affair with fellow MP Cheng Li Hui were made public.
The reconvening of Parliament on 5 September will mark the beginning of the 15th Parliament, following the general election held on 3 May 2025.
The first order of business will be the formal election of the Speaker. MPs will then be sworn in, followed by an address by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
The President’s Address will outline the Government’s legislative priorities and agenda for its five-year term, setting the tone for the new Parliament.
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