Indian-origin Joseph Yuvaraj Pillay appointed as Interim President of Singapore

Indian-origin civil servant Joseph Yuvaraj Pillay was on 1 September 2017 appointed as Interim President of Singapore until the new President is sworn-in.

Pillay succeeds Tony Tan Keng Yam who completed a six-year term on 31 August 2017. At present, Pillay is serving as the Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA).

This is the first time that the office of President of Singapore has fallen vacant since the elected presidency was introduced in 1991. As per Singapore law, when the office of President is vacant, the first in line to exercise its powers is the CPA Chairman followed by the Speaker of Parliament.

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This is not the first time that Pillay will exercise the powers of the President. He has been the acting President every time the president goes on an overseas trip. He acted as President in May 2017, when Tony Tan Keng made state visits to Europe.

Pillay has served for more than 60 such stints, the longest of which was 16 days in April and May of 2007, when then president S R Nathan visited Africa.