Singapore PAP wins landslide in GE2025 with 65.57 percent vote share
Singapore held its general election on May third, twenty twenty-five. The ruling People's Action Party, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, secured eighty-seven of ninety-seven parliamentary seats and sixty-five point five-seven percent of the popular vote. This represents a four percent increase from their twenty-twenty result. The Workers' Party, Singapore's main opposition, retained and expanded its twelve seats, including two additional seats gained from the previous election. Voter turnout was ninety-two point eight-three percent, though the second-lowest turnout rate since nineteen sixty-eight. The election took place amid public concerns about rising costs of living, employment, and housing. A record two hundred eleven candidates contested, the highest number of women candidates in Singapore's history. The PAP's strong showing signals voter preference for political continuity and stability despite economic headwinds from global trade tensions and uncertain growth forecasts.
Key facts
- PAP won 87 of 97 seats with 65.57 percent vote share, up from 61.23 percent in 2020
- Workers' Party retained and increased to 12 seats with 14.99 percent of popular vote
- Voter turnout was 92.83 percent, the second-lowest percentage since 1968
- Record 211 candidates contested including 53 women, the highest female representation in Singapore's history
- Opposition parties accused government of gerrymandering due to extensive electoral boundary redrawing before the election
- Primary voter concerns were rising cost of living, employment, and housing affordability
- Only two parties won seats: PAP and Workers' Party; nine other opposition parties lost all races
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning analysts note the Workers' Party's growing credibility and the opposition's amplification of ground concerns on cost of living issues. They highlight that a significant portion of voters desire more opposition representation, with critics arguing the first-past-the-post system creates a disproportionate seat allocation where opposition's 34 percent vote share yields only about 10 percent of elected seats.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning sources stress the PAP's reaffirmed mandate to continue stable governance and pro-business policies. They emphasize that voters rejected populist opposition positions and preferred the government's focus on economic competitiveness, workforce development, and maintaining Singapore's position as a trusted regional hub despite calls for greater social redistribution from opposition parties.
Limits of this briefing
Most mainstream sources emphasize PAP's strong governance record and economic rationale. Critical perspectives from civil society and opposition voices regarding electoral fairness concerns, the GRC system's impact on contestability, and media freedom are somewhat underrepresented in English-language international coverage. Some domestic opposition concerns about democratic norms and representation equity deserve greater attention.
Sources
- South China Morning Post: Singapore election: why can't the opposition make inroads? Centre
- Asia Society: Singapore's Ruling Party Wins, but the Opposition Is Here to Stay Centre
- East Asia Forum: People's Action Party prevails in Singapore Centre
- The Online Citizen: Disappointment wrapped in complexity Left
- US-ASEAN Business Council: Singapore General Election 2025: Political Landscape and Policy Continuity Right