SINGAPORE: Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party on Saturday (May 3) swept to the strong mandate that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had called for, by outstrategising the opposition – particularly its main rivals the Workers’ Party – as well as by banking on voters appearing to opt for continuity and stability over greater checks and scrutiny, analysts said.
In its first General Election under Mr Wong, the PAP won 87 out of 97 seats, increased its vote share from 61.2 per cent to 65.57 per cent, won hotly contested wards and extended its margin of victory in most constituencies.
The WP meanwhile held on to its wards of Hougang, Aljunied and Sengkang; and came close enough in Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC to be offered two “best loser” Non-Constituency MP seats.
None of the nine other opposition parties contesting in the polls managed to secure a seat.
“It is a great mandate for the PAP,” said the party’s former MP Inderjit Singh. “Given the many issues Singaporeans faced and yet the PAP had such a big turnaround from GE2020 is a feather in the cap of PM Wong.”
Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan called the GE2025 result a “resounding victory and an authoritative mandate” for the PAP.
“The transition to the 4G leadership is now complete as the latest generation of leaders has secured a mandate that the 3G team would be proud of,” he added.
Associate Professor Tan noted that Mr Wong had bucked the trend of new Prime Ministers overseeing a drop in the PAP’s vote share during the leadership transition.
“It is also significant that PM Wong continues a trend of the PAP not allowing the opposition to make gains in two consecutive elections,” he said.
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GE2025: Landslide victory for Singapore’s ruling PAP in PM Wong’s first electoral test
Experts also cited the PAP’s strategy of warning of the consequences of losing both present and future ministers, as a contributing factor – and a sign of voters choosing safety and security as trade-reliant Singapore navigates a period of global unease and economic turbulence.
Mr Wong had argued during the hustings that voting in more opposition candidates into parliament could mean losing potential officeholders and weakening the PAP government.
It led to a back-and-forth with WP leaders, which Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) research fellow Teo Kay Key said “had an effect in the PAP’s favour”.
“There seems to be a consolidation around status quo in this election, perhaps to try to ensure that the country has a tried-and-tested team leading us into these uncertain times,” she added.
National University of Singapore (NUS) political scientist Chong Ja Ian described Singaporean voters as typically “risk-averse”.
“They like what is familiar … Whether that’s good or bad is a different story,” he said. “The WP is also a beneficiary of voters voting for what is familiar.”
A “GOOD” SHOWING FOR WP, OR “SLOW PROGRESS”?
Political observers CNA spoke to were split on whether there were positive takeaways from the performance of Singapore’s main opposition party in the elections.
Associate Professor Chong noted that the WP had bucked the wider trend of a national swing away from opposition parties and towards the PAP, by not only retaining but increasing its vote share in constituencies it was defending.
“It’s in some ways a good election; of course they would have liked to do better, I’m sure,” he added. “They have momentum going into the next parliamentary session and the next election.”
Dr Teo noted that the WP had secured over 40 per cent of the vote in all new constituencies it contested, while the only other opposition party to do so was the…
