Chris Hipkins vs Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Hipkins succeeded Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister after her resignation. He became the 41st Prime Minister of New Zealand, leading the Labour Party into the 2023 general election.

Hipkins led Labour to a decisive defeat in the general election, winning only 34 seats to National's 48. He resigned as Labour leader following the loss, ending his brief tenure as Prime Minister.

As Prime Minister, Hipkins oversaw the final stages of New Zealand's COVID-19 response, including the end of mandatory isolation requirements and the transition to living with the virus.

Hipkins' government coordinated the national response to Cyclone Gabrielle, which caused widespread flooding and damage in the North Island. The government declared a national state of emergency and allocated recovery funding.

Tharman served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2019 and as Minister for Finance from 2007 to 2015. He oversaw Singapore's economic policies, including the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and social spending initiatives.

Tharman was appointed Chairman of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) of the IMF in 2011, serving until 2014. He played a key role in global economic governance and reform of the international financial system.

Tharman Shanmugaratnam was elected as the 9th President of Singapore on September 1, 2023, winning over 70% of the vote. He ran as an independent candidate, focusing on national unity and social issues.