Singapore’s ruling party extends hold with sweeping win in general elections

SINGAPORE IS A ONE PARTY CITY STATE 

NOT A COUNTRY

Shahana Yasmin
Sun, May 4, 2025

Singapore’s ruling party extends hold with sweeping win in general elections

Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) has secured another decisive victory in Saturday’s general election, winning 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats and 65.6 per cent of the popular vote, according to the Election Department.

The result marks a strong endorsement for prime minister Lawrence Wong in his first electoral test as head of government, a year after he took over leadership of the long-ruling party.

The outcome not only extends the PAP’s uninterrupted 66-year rule but also reflects a swing in support from its near-record low of 61.2 per cent in the 2020 polls.

Voters backed the party in a campaign shaped by economic headwinds and regional instability, delivering early wins in key battlegrounds like Punggol GRC, Tampines GRC, and Jalan Kayu SMC.

At a press conference following the vote count, Mr Wong described the result as “deeply humbling” and “a clear signal of trust, stability and confidence” from Singaporeans. He acknowledged that voters also wanted more alternative voices in government, but said the strong PAP mandate would give Singapore the best chance to navigate an uncertain world.

“The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world,” he said. “We will honour the mandate you have given us.”

Lawrence Wong greets his supporters at the party's gathering centre during the general election results (AFP via Getty Images)

Thanking voters for their support, Mr Wong said his immediate priority would be to form a Cabinet and confirmed that all key MPs had been returned to Parliament. “I will announce the Cabinet line-up when ready,” he added.


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A US-trained economist and current finance minister, Mr Wong had appealed for a strong mandate to guide Singapore through economic headwinds worsened by global trade tensions and protectionist policies. At 52, he now faces the challenge of addressing rising living costs and a housing crunch, even as the economy braces for a potential recession.

Despite retaining its 10 seats, the opposition Workers’ Party saw heavy losses in many constituencies. PAP candidates won more than two-thirds of the vote in 18 of 33 contested races.

Leader of the Opposition and the WP’s secretary general Pritam Singh told supporters: “We start work again tomorrow, and we go again.

“Your support has been so important in the mission of achieving and working towards a more balanced parliament. That work also continues.”

“The voters have spoken and they have voted for stability, for continuity, for certainty – and they voted to give Prime Minister Lawrence Wong a strong mandate,” said Mustafa Izzuddin, adjunct senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore, told Reuters.

Supporters of the leader of the opposition and secretary-general of the Workers' Party, Pritam Singh, react as he delivers his speech after the preliminary results of the general elections were announced (EPA)

Mr Wong’s victory marks the beginning of a new chapter in Singapore’s leadership. He succeeded Lee Hsien Loong in May 2024, becoming the city-state’s fourth prime minister. Mr Lee, who stepped down after 20 years in office, remains in Cabinet as a senior minister. His retirement closed a significant chapter in Singapore’s political history, ending a family dynasty that began with founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who led the nation for 31 years and transformed it into one of the world's most developed economies.

Speaking after the results, Mr Wong acknowledged emerging signs of a slowdown in Singapore’s economy and pledged to treat it as a priority. “We will do more to get Singapore through the storm safely,” he said.

He emphasised that the real contest was not between the PAP and the opposition, but between Singapore and a turbulent global environment.

Framing the country as a perennial underdog, Mr Wong urged unity over division: “Singapore is the underdog we have always been, and we will continue to be, despite what we have achieved today. So to improve our chances, we cannot afford to fight one another.”

Speaking after the results, Mr Wong acknowledged emerging signs of a slowdown in Singapore’s economy and pledged to treat it as a priority (EPA)

He also warned against attempts to sway voters along racial or religious lines, reinforcing the PAP’s message of multiracial harmony and national resilience.

World leaders were quick to extend their congratulations to Mr Wong and the PAP following their victory.

The US, a longstanding ally, reaffirmed its commitment to the relationship. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the nearly 60-year strategic partnership between the two nations, calling it “strong and enduring.”

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the newly elected government and Prime Minister Wong to strengthen economic growth and our bilateral defence and security ties,” he said.

Regional leaders echoed the sentiment. Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto praised the “decisive victory” as a reflection of Singaporeans’ trust in Wong’s leadership and said he looked forward to strengthening bilateral ties.

Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba also extended his congratulations, adding that he hoped to deepen cooperation as the two countries approach the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.

Heartfelt congratulations to @LawrenceWongST on the outcome of the general election.
Looking ahead to the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Singapore next year, I look forward to working even more closely with Prime Minister Wong to strengthen the…

— 石破茂 (@shigeruishiba) May 4, 2025

My heartfelt congratulations to the Honourable @LawrenceWongST on the victory of The People’s Action Party (PAP) of Singapore.

The decisive victory reflects the trust, stability and confidence of the people of Singapore in the strong leadership of Honourable Wong and the PAP. I…

— Prabowo Subianto (@prabowo) May 4, 2025



Heartiest congratulations @LawrenceWongST on your resounding victory in the general elections. India and Singapore share a strong and multifaceted partnership, underpinned by close people-to-people ties. I look forward to continue working closely with you to further advance our…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 4, 2025

India’s prime minister Narendra Modi described the Singapore-India relationship as “strong and multifaceted” and said he looked forward to working closely with Mr Wong to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Malaysia’s prime minister Anwar Ibrahim spoke of the “enduring ties of kith and kin” between the two countries, highlighting the importance of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and said it could become “a shining example of what neighbours can achieve, with conviction and shared purpose”.






As PAP triumphs again in Singapore, Workers' Party emerges as main opposition

Reuters
Sun, May 4, 2025 


Singapore general election

Singapore general election



SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the convincing re-election of his People's Action Party would help the city-state face turbulent times, as analysts said the weekend poll also showed one party emerging as the main opposition group.

The PAP's 14th successive election victory was never in question. Instead, the focus was on the mandate voters would give Wong in his first electoral test since assuming the top job a year ago.

The PAP, which has ruled since before Singapore's 1965 independence, won 87 of the 97 parliamentary seats up for grabs in Saturday's vote, the election commission said. Wong said the PAP won 65% of the vote, improving on the 61% achieved in the 2020 contest.

"The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world," Wong said in the early hours of Sunday.

Unspoken was the cause of that turbulence, with U.S. President Donald Trump's upending of the global order and tariff regime posing a threat to Singapore, a small, open and trade-driven nation.

Australia's Labor Party won an increased majority in an election on Saturday and last week Canada's Liberal Party retained power with the Trump factor also cited as a key factor.

"Hence, this suggests that there is indeed a strong element of a flight to safety among voters," said Gillian Koh, Senior Research Fellow in governance and economy at the Institute of Policy Studies, although she added there were also local factors at play.

The 10 seats that the PAP did not win on Saturday were all won by the Workers' Party.

"It was a very difficult fight for the Workers' Party, as you know, any opposition party in Singapore, to make inroads into our political system, the challenges are real," party leader Pritam Singh told reporters on Sunday.

Analysts said the Workers' Party had solidified its position as the main challenger to the PAP's stranglehold on power.

"It is a hard, thankless slog, but they are attracting really high-quality candidates, running a tight outfit, and using these elections to give new people valuable electioneering experience," said Associate Professor Michael Barr of the College of Business, Government and Law at Flinders University.

Koh also noted the Workers' Party had pulled ahead of other parties, though a sustained challenge to the PAP remained distant.

"It takes Singapore firmly into a one-and-a-half party system, albeit not immediately and well less than its medium-term goal of denying the PAP the supermajority in parliament."

Explainer-What's at stake in Singapore's May 3 election?

Martin Petty
Tue, April 29, 2025 
REUTERS



People's Action Party rally ahead of general election in Singapore

Workers’ Party rally ahead of the general election in Singapore


By Martin Petty

(Reuters) - Singapore holds a parliamentary election on May 3, the first big test for new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as his People's Action Party seeks to extend its unbroken rule of the city-state and emerge with a stronger mandate.

HOW WILL IT PLAY OUT?

The PAP is almost certain to win most seats in the election as it has every election since Singapore's independence in 1965, with candidates fielded in all 33 constituencies for 97 seats in parliament.

With a track record of good governance, attracting investment and ensuring stability of the trade-reliant economy, the PAP remains the dominant force in Singapore politics with resources that dwarf its opponents and a big party membership to draw from. Of the total 211 election candidates running, 46% are PAP.

No opposition party can mount a challenge alone, with the PAP's biggest rival, the Workers' Party, running in only a quarter of the races, meaning the most it can win is 26 seats. The third party from the previous parliament, the Progress Singapore Party, is contesting only 13 seats.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Despite the odds overwhelmingly in the PAP's favour and defeat highly unlikely, the election has the potential to alter the dynamic of Singapore politics in the years ahead and create a path towards greater political plurality.

Steady gains by the opposition in recent elections have been widely interpreted as signs of disenchantment with the ruling party's monopoly and a desire among some Singaporeans, particularly younger voters, for more diverse politics, with alternative voices and ideas, greater policy scrutiny and more robust debate.

The PAP's share of the popular vote fell to 61% in 2020 from 70% in 2015. If it sees another decline and the opposition Workers' Party builds on its record 10 seats in 2020, it could be interpreted as a sign that after six decades in charge, the PAP's mandate and grip on power is slowly weakening.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was premier for two decades, warned at a PAP rally on Sunday that opposition seat gains would "weaken the ruling party's ability to govern" and result in the loss of experienced ministers.

WHAT ARE THE KEY ISSUES?

The opposition is taking aim at the PAP over living costs and housing availability, a perennial problem in Singapore, among the world's most expensive cities.

The PAP has sought to head that off with a raft of giveaways in February's budget, including groceries vouchers, tax rebates and cash handouts. Wong has pledged more if Singapore's economy suffers collateral damage from global trade tensions, with recession possible.

Some opposition parties are also campaigning for tighter controls on foreign workers in high-paid jobs and free or reduced-price healthcare, an issue for Singapore's ageing population. Wong has warned of "many tempting proposals" from opponents that could weaken public finances and hurt investment and incomes.

WHAT ADVANTAGE DOES PAP HAVE?

Wong called the election at short notice on April 15, giving opponents little preparation time. Singapore's unique model also works favourably for his party, with both single- and multi-member constituencies, where teams of up to six candidates run.

Unlike the PAP, opposition parties struggle to recruit enough candidates for multi-member contests and steep deposits of S$13,500 ($10,280) per candidate are a deterrent.

More than half of constituencies are multi-member and the PAP already has five seats in the bag after a walkover in one of those when no opposition parties contested.

Singapore also regularly revises electoral divisions, ostensibly to reflect population shifts, which has worked to the PAP's advantage. It has previously denied allegations of gerrymandering.

WHAT'S CONSIDERED A GOOD PAP MANDATE?

The PAP watches its share of the popular vote closely, even though its worst performance of 60.1% in 2011 still translated to 93% of seats and would still be considered a landslide in many democracies.

Some analysts say a vote share of 60% to 65% would look good for Wong in his first election as premier.

"Anything that indicates a significant dip from the last election would likely be attributed to voters’ perception of weakening confidence in the new leadership," said National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser.

(Reporting by Martin Petty; Additional reporting by Jun Yuan Yong; Editing by Michael Perry)