The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) of Singapore secured a landslide victory in the general election held on the 3rd, solidifying its long-term ruling system as the leading party at a significant turning point.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who became Singapore's new leader in May last year, proved his leadership with a decisive victory in his first general election after taking office, securing momentum for governance. This election has been regarded as a crucial test to confirm public support and trust in the PAP and Prime Minister Wong.
Initially, the PAP's victory, which has ruled for 60 years since independence in 1965, was taken for granted. The key question was how significantly the PAP would win. Founded by the late Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister revered as a 'national father,' the PAP has won every general election since independence in 1965 and has never lost power.
The opposition entered the National Assembly only in 1981, and since then, the PAP has maintained an overwhelming majority. The opposition has gradually expanded its influence and has begun to create cracks in the PAP's solid 'one-party dominance.'
In the 2020 general election, the PAP secured 83 out of 93 seats. The Workers' Party (WP) achieved a record 10 seats for the opposition. While the victory portrayed as a clear win for the PAP, there were also opinions in Singapore that expressed it as 'effectively a loss for the ruling party.'
Ahead of this general election, there were predictions that the ruling party's voter turnout would fall below the record low of 60.1% from the 2011 general election. Moreover, there were prevailing forecasts that the opposition would increase its number of seats beyond its previous election performance.
Experts noted that if the ruling party's voter turnout improves, it would bolster Prime Minister Wong’s administration; however, if the results were poor, new leadership could be shaken.
The PAP's increase in voter turnout by more than 4 percentage points compared to the last election and its decision not to grant the opposition additional seats are evaluated as unexpected results. Eugene Tan, a professor at Singapore Management University (SMU), said to the Associated Press, "It is surprising that the opposition has failed to gain more seats than in the 2020 general election," adding, "Voters have shown their trust in the ruling party, which has governed Singapore for a long time."
Ahead of this general election, the ruling party focused on solving economic issues, while the opposition aimed to create balance and checks within the parliament. This analysis suggests that voters chose stability in response to the global economic uncertainties caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies.
Prime Minister Wong emphasized the crisis caused by the U.S.-China trade war and appealed for support for the stable ruling party, suggesting that this strategy proved effective. Following the victory, Prime Minister Wong stated, "The people have granted strong authority to the government," adding, "This result will position Singapore better in a tumultuous world."
This general election also signifies the completion of the transition to Prime Minister Wong's administration, the second 'non-Lee Kuan Yew family' prime minister after the second Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. It is expected to provide momentum for Prime Minister Wong's future political endeavors, leading his first general election to a decisive victory.
While the WP failed to expand its number of seats, it laid the groundwork for increasing its support rate, particularly among young people. Concerns regarding the government's strict social controls and limitations on freedom of expression have been raised, and voices calling for an expansion of political diversity are expected to continue.