Singapore's ruling party secures landslide victory in election, securing significant majority seats.

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Singapore's People's Action Party (PAP) secured an overwhelming victory in the 2025 elections, capturing all but 10 seats in the 97-seat legislature, with a massive 65.57% of the over 2.4 million votes cast. In the face of a rejuvenated opposition and economic uncertainties fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs policies, PAP leader Lawrence Wong urged voters to offer their strong support.

"Our victory in these elections is a clear sign of trust, stability, and confidence in the government," Wong said at a news conference, shortly after the official results were announced. He went on to say the strong mandate given by the people would position Singapore better to navigate the challenging world we live in.

Though the PAP's dominance had been increasingly questioned by a more vocal electorate, the vote saw the party's popularity climb compared to the 2020 elections. Wong succeeded Lee Hsien Loong as the PAP leader a year prior, after leading Singapore's Covid-19 task force and gaining popular favor.

The Campaign Trail

Wong had warned that Singapore would face tough economic consequences if Trump carried through with the announced tariffs (and later paused them) for most countries. The need for Singapore to stay competitive to counter the tariffs' effects was a central theme for the PAP during the campaign. The tense campaigning by Wong and former PM Lee Hsien Loong likely played a role in rallying voters, along with lingering concerns about the tariffs.

Several controversies surrounded the PAP during the election season, including a bitter feud between Lee Hsien Loong and his brother Lee Hsien Yang, concerns over parliamentary performance, and allegations of cronyism in intra-party matters. As one supporter aptly puts it, "Most of the time things have been going smoothly, and the PAP is reliable."

The Controversies

Singaporeans have grown accustomed to the PAP's winning streak in elections, but the path to victory has not been without hurdles. In the lead-up to the elections, the PAP faced a series of controversies on a range of topics, from economic pressures to migration and housing affordability, to concerns over candidate selection methods.

Economic Policies

Concerns about the impact of the 9% Goods and Services Tax (GST), implemented in 2023, on rising living costs were a central issue in the election. The opposition argued that government vouchers were inadequate in offsetting the financial strain for residents, while the PAP maintained that the vouchers effectively cushioned the blow.

Intra-Party Matters

A partnership to sell government-linked insurer NTUC Income to Germany’s Allianz came under scrutiny during the campaign, with open letters questioning the sincerity of PAP candidate Ng Chee Meng in addressing concerns during negotiations. In addition, there were allegations related to ministerial pay and parlor performances, with the opposition expressing concerns about uneven performance and lack of transparency in government affairs.

Candidate Selection

The PAP drew criticism for its candidate selection process, which relies on Shell-Oil-derived psychological assessments and elite networks. Critics argued that the process fosters exclusion and groupthink, rather than cultivating socioeconomic diversity.

Leadership Transition

With Lawrence Wong heading the PAP for the first time in an election, the question of whether reduced PAP dominance could lead to instability in government was a recurring narrative in opposition narratives. Wong, however, emphasized that a PAP loss of seats would not destabilize governance amid global economic pressures.

These controversies notwithstanding, the overwhelming support for the PAP in the election serves as a barometer of trust and stability in the Singaporean electorate. As the PAP continues its journey, questions remain about how the party will steer the small island nation through a rapidly changing global landscape.

After securing a substantial victory in the 2025 elections, Malaysia's counterpart, Singapore's People's Action Party (PAP), under the leadership of Lawrence Wong, claimed that their win signified a clear endorsement of trust, stability, and confidence in the government.
Despite facing a series of controversies, including allegations of cronyism, concerns over parliamentary performance, and a bitter feud between Lee Hsien Loong and his brother Lee Hsien Yang, the PAP managed to strengthen its popularity in the elections compared to the 2020 elections.
Economic policies, particularly the 9% Goods and Services Tax (GST), implemented in 2023, and its impact on rising living costs, were major issues during the campaign. The opposition argued that the government vouchers were insufficient, while the PAP maintained that the vouchers effectively cushioned the financial strain for residents.
The PAP came under scrutiny for its candidate selection process, which relies on Shell-Oil-derived psychological assessments and elite networks, causing critics to argue that it fosters exclusion and groupthink, rather than cultivating socioeconomic diversity. These issues were raised as potential threats to stability during the leadership transition with Lawrence Wong heading the PAP for the first time in an election.