Singapore PAP wins 87 of 97 seats in May 2025 general election landslide
Singapore held its 2025 general election on May 3rd, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's People's Action Party securing a commanding victory. The PAP won 87 of the 97 parliamentary seats and increased its vote share to 65.57 percent, up from 61.24 percent in 2020. The Workers' Party, Singapore's main opposition, retained all 10 of its elected seats plus gained two additional non-constituency seats, for a total of 12 opposition voices in parliament. The election featured 211 candidates, including a record 53 women. Voter turnout was 92.47 percent. Key campaign issues included cost of living, employment, housing affordability, and economic stability amid global trade tensions. This was Wong's first general election as PAP leader, and he stated he had secured a clear and strong mandate to govern. The Workers' Party acknowledged the real structural challenges facing opposition parties in Singapore's political system.
Key facts
- PAP won 87 of 97 parliament seats with 65.57 percent of the vote, its best result since 2011
- Workers' Party retained all 10 elected seats plus 2 non-constituency seats for total of 12 opposition members
- Record 211 candidates contested, including 53 women, the highest number of female candidates in Singapore history
- Voter turnout was 92.47 percent in a compulsory voting system
- Electoral boundaries were redrawn before the election in 88 of 97 constituencies, drawing gerrymandering accusations from opposition
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Progressive sources highlight concerns about electoral boundary changes that critics argue constitute gerrymandering, with the boundary redistricting having concentrated on constituencies where opposition parties previously performed well. They also note the PAP's institutional advantages including vast resources, media control, and the structural difficulty for opposition parties to gain ground despite strong candidate slates and increased public interest in diverse political voices.
Right-leaning coverage: Conservative-leaning analyses emphasize the PAP's decisive mandate and the stability it provides for business and economic policy. They highlight Wong's ability to improve the party's vote share in his first election as a significant achievement, and stress that the PAP's continued governance ensures strategic continuity, pro-enterprise policies, and Singapore's position as a globally connected hub amid regional supply chain realignments.
Limits of this briefing
Singapore's media landscape is tightly controlled by the PAP government, limiting independent reporting and analysis. Most mainstream coverage reflects pro-government perspectives, making left-leaning critiques harder to find in domestic outlets.
Sources
- Yahoo News Singapore: Singapore General Election results; PM Lawrence Wong's PAP wins strong mandate: Singapore live news Centre
- ABC News Australia: People's Action Party wins yet another election by landslide in Singapore Centre
- Pacific Affairs at University of British Columbia: Gerrymandering and its Effects in Singapore's 2025 General Elections Left
- Edelman (Centrist Analysis Firm): Singapore's 2025 General Election: Resounding Mandate & Continuity Secured Centre
- Al Jazeera: Singapore's ruling party wins election in landslide Centre