Singapore PAP wins landslide in GE2025, opposition holds ground
Singapore held its 2025 general election on May 3rd. The People's Action Party won 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats with 65.57 percent of the popular vote, up from 61.23 percent in 2020. The opposition Workers' Party retained all 10 of its seats and gained two additional non-constituency member positions. Voter turnout was 92.83 percent. The election marked the first under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's leadership and occurred against concerns about rising costs of living, housing affordability, and employment. The PAP victory signals continued political stability and gives Wong a strong mandate to govern. The Workers' Party, while failing to gain new ground in contested constituencies, consolidated its role as Singapore's main opposition force. Key issues during the campaign included cost of living, housing prices, and economic uncertainty.
Key facts
- PAP won 87 of 97 seats with 65.57 percent popular vote, up 4.34 percentage points from 2020
- Workers' Party retained 10 seats and gained 2 non-constituency seats; vote share rose to 14.99 percent
- Voter turnout was 92.83 percent, down 2.98 percentage points from 2020
- Cost of living was cited as the top concern for 72 percent of voters surveyed
- This was the first general election under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's leadership
- One constituency saw a walkover, the first since 2011; 97 seats were directly contested
- A record 89 new candidates contested, the highest number ever
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning and progressive sources highlight concerns about Singapore's democratic deficit despite the Workers' Party's resilience. They point to structural advantages benefiting the PAP—including the Group Representation Constituency system, electoral boundaries, and campaign restrictions—that they argue disadvantage opposition parties. They also note rising voter disengagement, with lower turnout and more spoilt ballots, which some interpret as a protest vote against the political system itself.
Right-leaning coverage: Business-oriented and pro-PAP sources celebrate the government's strong mandate as enabling continued economic stability and policy continuity. They frame the PAP victory as voter confidence in experienced leadership during global economic uncertainty and geopolitical turbulence. They highlight the PAP's track record managing past crises and emphasize that the election result positions Singapore as a predictable, stable gateway for international business.
Limits of this briefing
Limited opposition-critical international media coverage was found; most critical perspectives came from local academic and independent outlets. Foreign interference attempts, particularly from Malaysian political figures, were documented but their electoral impact remains unclear. Some concerns about democratic norms and electoral fairness remain contested between pro-government and opposition analysts.
Sources
- Asia Society Policy Institute: Singapore's Ruling Party Wins, but the Opposition Is Here to Stay Centre
- US-ASEAN Business Council: Singapore General Election 2025 (GE2025): Political Landscape and Policy Continuity Right
- The Online Citizen: Disappointment wrapped in complexity Left
- Al Jazeera: Singapore's ruling party wins election in landslide Centre
- APCO Worldwide: Singapore After GE2025: The Beginning of Managed Pluralism Centre