Singaporeans went to the polls Saturday in a general election that marks the first major test of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s leadership since taking office last year.
Wong’s People’s Action Party (PAP), which has governed Singapore uninterrupted since independence in 1965, is widely expected to maintain its parliamentary majority.
However, the election is being closely watched for signs of shifting public sentiment amid growing concerns over rising living costs, income inequality, and limited political freedoms.
The PAP is contesting all 97 parliamentary seats, while the main opposition Workers’ Party is fielding candidates in 26.
Five seats have already been secured by the PAP in an uncontested group representation constituency — the first walkover since 2011.
Voting is compulsory in Singapore, where nearly 2.76 million citizens are eligible to cast ballots. Polls will close at 8 p.m. local time, with official results expected early Sunday.
Prime Minister Wong, a US-educated economist and former finance minister, succeeded Lee Hsien Loong in 2024, ending the leadership of the Lee political dynasty.
Wong has called for a strong mandate to guide the trade-dependent city-state through economic headwinds, including the fallout from renewed global trade tensions.
Observers say the vote could signal how open younger generations are to political diversity in a tightly controlled system. The PAP’s share of the popular vote dipped to 61% in the 2020 election — its second-lowest ever — though it retained 83 of 93 seats at the time.
With opposition parties calling for a more balanced parliament, PAP officials have warned that reduced support could weaken the government's ability to manage looming economic challenges.
More than 200 candidates from 11 political parties are contesting this election, which followed a brief nine-day campaign.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ