PAP wins in Singapore

Special Desk

The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has retained power in Singapore general elections but with a reduced margin, results have revealed.

PAP, in power since 1965, won 83 of 93 parliamentary seats or 61.2% of the vote – down from nearly 70% it had in the previous general elections in 2015. The opposition Workers’ Party secured 10 seats – its best result.

Voters were seen wearing gloves and masks and given timed voting slots. This made very few stay inside pooling booths.

Singapore has been one of the worst hit countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with more than 45,000 cases. As large scale gatherings and events are deemed a high risk during the pandemic, only a few countries have gone ahead with national elections during the past months.

Singapore had initially been praised for keeping the virus in check until clusters in its migrant population dramatically drove up infection numbers. Voters elected Members of Parliament to the 14th Parliament of Singapore since Singapore’s independence in 1965. This was 18th general election in Singapore.

The election was widely seen as a referendum on the government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The small city state is one of only a handful of countries to have held a vote during the pandemic.

Strict safety measures were put in place, with voters wearing gloves and masks and given timed voting slots. Singapore has been one of the worst hit countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with more than 45,000 cases.

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The PAP victory now brings current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yet another term in office. The son of country’s founding father and long-time ruler Lee Kuan Yew, Lee has been in office since 2004 – but has indicated the forthcoming term will be his last.

The PAP’s two-thirds majority gives him a virtually free hand in passing key bills, although the party leadership is expected to start some soul-searching with the diminished popular support.