Martin Petty
(Reuters) – Singapore holds a parliamentary election on May 3, the first big test for new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as his People's Action Party seeks to expand its uninterrupted domination of city-states and rule with a stronger mission.
How will it work?
Since Singapore’s independence in 1965, Papp is almost certain to win most seats as it held every election, with candidates winning 97 seats in parliament in all 33 constituencies.
With a good track record of governance, attracting investment and ensuring the stability of a trade-dependent economy, PAP remains the main force in Singapore’s politics, with resources dwarfing its rivals and those of large party members. Of the 211 election candidates in total, 46% are PAPs.
There is no opposition party to face the challenge alone, and PAP's biggest rival, the Workers' Party, runs in just a quarter of the race, which means that the maximum number of seats can be won is 26 seats. The third party in the previous parliament, the Progress Singapore Party, participated in only 13 seats.
What are the risks?
Although the vast majority are support for Parker and extremely unlikely to defeat, the election has the potential to change the dynamics of Singapore’s politics in the coming years and create a path for greater political diversity.
In recent elections, the stable gains of the opposition have been widely interpreted as signs of monopoly on the ruling party, as well as the desire among some Singaporeans, especially young voters, toward more diverse politics, alternative voices and ideas, greater policy review, greater policy review and better debate.
Of the 70% of PAP in 2015, PAP's share fell to 61% in 2020. If another decline is seen, the opposition Workers Party established on a record 10 seats in 2020, it can be interpreted as a sign that Pap’s mandate and hold power is getting weaker in the head of sixty years in charge.
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who served as prime minister for two decades, warned at a Parker rally on Sunday that the proceeds from opposition seats would “destroy the ruling party’s ability to rule” and result in the loss of experienced ministers.
What are the key issues?
The opposition is targeting the cost of life and housing availability of Singapore’s perennial problems in the world’s most expensive cities.
PAP is trying to guide this with a large number of giveaways in the February budget, including grocery vouchers, tax discounts and cash allocations. If Singapore's economy suffers collateral damage from global trade tensions, then the king promises more.
Some opposition parties are also running for tighter controls for foreign workers who have high-paying jobs and free or lower prices for health care, a problem with Singapore’s aging population. Wong warned that opponents could weaken public finances and harm “many tempting suggestions” of investment and income.
What are the advantages of PAP?
Wong convened the election in a short time on April 15, giving his opponent little time to prepare. Singapore’s unique model also favors his party, consisting of a single and multi-member campaign, with a team of up to six candidates.
Unlike PAP, it is difficult for the Opposition to recruit enough candidates for each candidate to compete in a multiplayer competition and recruit a huge deposit of S$13,500 ($10,280).
More than half of the constituencies are multi-person, and Pap already has five seats in the bag after a hike with no opposition rivalry.
Singapore also regularly revises its election departments, ostensibly to reflect population changes, which helps PAP's strengths. It previously denied Grimand's allegations.
What is considered a good cervical smear authorization?
PAP looks at its share of the universal suffrage vote, and although the worst 60.1% performance in 2011 still translates to 93% of seats, it will still be seen as a landslide for many democracies.
Some analysts say the voting share was 60% to 65% in Wong's first election.
“Anything that shows a significant decline in the last election may be attributed to voters' perceptions of confidence in the new leadership,” said Tan Ern Ser, sociologist at the National University of Singapore.
(Reported by Martin Petty; Other reports by Jun Yuan Yong; Editor of Michael Perry)
