Singapore's governing party, led by Lawrence Wong, achieves a huge win in the nation's general election.
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Singapore's 2025 General Election: PAP Dominates, Dealing with Global Challenges
Singapore's long-ruling People's Action Party (PAP), led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, clinched a resounding victory in the 2025 General Election. The PAP secured 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats, according to local media reports.
The election came amid uncertainties in the global economy, fueled by US trade tariffs. However, the PAP's triumph was not just about weathering economic challenges; it was also about addressing complex issues facing Singapore and its people.
The PAP, Singapore's oldest and most influential political party, has governed the city-state since its independence in 1965. Over 2.6 million eligible voters participated in the election, with 92 contested seats up for grabs.
This was Prime Minister Wong's first election as the head of this global-business focused city-state, which is now grappling with strong headwinds caused by US tariffs. Speaking after the results, Wong expressed his gratitude for the strong mandate and pledged to work diligently for the nation.
"Navigating through these uncertain waters isn't easy," said the 52-year-old premier, "but I assure you, we will face these challenges head-on and do our utmost to ensure Singapore's continued prosperity."
The election saw fierce campaigning by opposition parties, with key issues like the high cost of living, housing affordability, and increasing foreign presence in various sectors of the economy taking center stage. While the PAP fielded candidates in all 92 constituencies, its main rival, the Workers' Party, contested 26 seats.
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong was among those balancing election responsibilities and tariff negotiations with the US. The PMI, a manufacturing sector health indicator, fell to 49.6 points in April, signaling contraction, a stark contrast from the 19 consecutive months of expansion the city-state had previously experienced.
However, the PAP secured a walkover in one constituency due to insufficient opposition candidates. Despite a drop in the PAP's share of the popular vote to a near-record low of 61% in the 2020 elections, the opposition's gains have been met with the PAP's resilience.
Apart from economic challenges, the PAP faces other pressing concerns. Preserving national unity amidst a diverse population and external influences is a priority. Additionally, the government is working tirelessly to support workers and businesses, as well as strengthen partnerships with other nations to mitigate potential economic downturns.
"Make no mistake," said Wong, "we are resilient and capable. We've faced challenges before, and we've always emerged stronger."
As Singapore moves forward, Prime Minister Wong and the PAP face a daunting but exciting task - ensuring Singapore continues to thrive in an increasingly complex and uncertain global landscape.
- To tackle the complex issues facing Singaporeans, the People's Action Party (PAP) must confront issues such as the high cost of living and housing affordability, especially given the ongoing uncertainties in the global economy fueled by US trade tariffs.
- As Singapore grapples with strong headwinds caused by US tariffs and struggles with a growing economy, the government's primary focus will be on supporting workers and businesses to ensure Singapore's economic prosperity.
- The PAP's main concern in the 2025 General Election was not only dealing with economic challenges but also addressing the increased foreign presence in various sectors of the Singaporean economy, which was a major campaign topic for opposition parties.
- Although the People's Action Party (PAP) only achieved a near-record low of 61% in the 2020 elections, their resilience in facing this drop and continuing to dominate the political landscape reflects their ability to adapt and address the changing needs of Singaporeans in the midst of global economic challenges.
- Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Minister, Gan Kim Yong, juggled both election responsibilities and tariff negotiations with the US during the 2025 General Election, testifying to the intricate interaction between politics, economics, and global affairs in Singapore's diplomacy and decision-making process.
