Singapore PAP wins landslide GE2025 with 65.6% vote share; opposition holds stable
Singapore's May 3, 2025 general election delivered a decisive victory for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's ruling People's Action Party, which won 87 of 97 contested parliamentary seats and increased its popular vote share to 65.57 percent—up from 61.2 percent in 2020. The opposition Workers' Party retained all 10 of its seats and gained two additional non-constituency seats, though it failed to expand into new constituencies despite strong voter concerns about cost of living and housing. This was Wong's first election as party leader. Voter turnout stood at 92.83 percent, the lowest since 1968. The outcome reflects confidence in political continuity amid global economic uncertainty, though voter surveys showed persistent concerns about affordability and economic security remain central to Singaporean politics.
Key facts
- PAP won 87 of 97 contested seats with 65.57 percent popular vote, up from 61.2 percent in 2020
- Workers' Party retained 10 elected seats and gained 2 additional non-constituency seats but made no new seat gains
- Voter turnout was 92.83 percent—lowest since 1968—with mandatory voting in Singapore
- Lawrence Wong led PAP in his first general election as prime minister since taking office in May 2024
- Election held May 3, 2025 with 211 candidates including record 53 women competing across 97 seats
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Progressive and left-leaning analysts highlight that despite rising costs of living, voters chose stability over change, suggesting voters prioritize proven competence and managed social progress over opposition promises for wealth taxes and radical policy shifts. Some sources note concerns about structural inequalities, single-issue voting politics, and whether token opposition representation provides meaningful democratic checks on executive power.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning and pro-PAP sources stress the landslide as vindication of the ruling party's economic management, emphasis on constituency-level delivery over divisive national rhetoric, and its appeal to voters seeking security amid geopolitical and trade turbulence. Some highlight concerns about single-issue voting politics and emphasize the PAP's consensus-building approach on social issues as preferable to opposition polarization.
Limits of this briefing
Sources reflect mainstream media and analyst commentary primarily from English-language outlets; limited direct representation of critical left-wing or pro-democracy advocacy perspectives that may operate outside formal media channels. Rural and informal sector voter sentiment may be underrepresented in available analysis.
Sources
- PBS NewsHour: Singapore's long-ruling party wins another election landslide in boost for new prime minister Centre
- Asia Society Policy Institute: Singapore's Ruling Party Wins, but the Opposition Is Here to Stay Centre
- Al Jazeera: Singapore's ruling party wins election in landslide Centre
- East Asia Forum: People's Action Party prevails in Singapore Centre
- South China Morning Post: Singapore election: why can't the opposition make inroads? Centre