Singapore PAP wins strong mandate with 87 of 97 seats in May 2025 election
On May 3, 2025, Singapore held its general election with the ruling People's Action Party winning 87 of 97 parliamentary seats and 65.57 percent of the popular vote, the party's best performance since 2011. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong secured a decisive mandate leading his first election since taking office. The opposition Workers' Party retained all 10 of its elected seats, maintaining its position as the country's principal opposition force. Nine other opposition parties and independent candidates failed to win seats. Despite voter concerns about rising costs of living and employment opportunities, voters favored the PAP's message of stability amid global economic uncertainty. The election featured record participation with 211 candidates, including 53 women, the highest number in Singapore's history. No significant breakthrough occurred for opposition parties despite strong campaign turnout.
Key facts
- PAP secured 87 of 97 parliamentary seats with 65.57% of the popular vote on May 3, 2025
- Workers' Party retained all 10 elected seats across three constituencies
- Record 211 candidates contested, including 53 women—highest female candidate participation in Singapore history
- Cost of living was voters' primary concern ahead of the election
- Voter turnout reached 82% by 5 p.m. on election day
- Prime Minister Lawrence Wong won his first election since taking office in May 2024
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning commentary highlighted concerns about the PAP's 'autocratic grip' over Singapore politics and questioned democratic representation. Analysts noted that despite strong opposition rally attendance and robust manifestos, the opposition made limited gains, and they emphasized that electoral boundary changes conducted through an opaque process raised allegations of gerrymandering that concentrated PAP support and diluted opposition strength.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning business-focused analysis emphasized the PAP's strong mandate as enabling confident policy implementation without obstruction from a divided opposition. Coverage highlighted that the rejection of populist anti-immigration parties gave the PAP confidence to pursue talent-attraction policies needed for workforce growth, and framed the outcome as a validation of the party's governance model and capacity to handle trade-dependent Singapore's vulnerabilities.
Limits of this briefing
Most coverage comes from business-oriented and regional policy institutes, with limited representation from independent domestic media or grassroots opposition perspectives. Some analytical sources examined allegations of gerrymandering, but official confirmation of boundary change transparency remains disputed.
Sources
- Asia Society Policy Institute: Singapore's Ruling Party Wins, but the Opposition Is Here to Stay Centre
- East Asia Forum: People's Action Party prevails in Singapore Centre
- Edelman: Singapore's 2025 General Election: Resounding Mandate & Continuity Secured Right
- US-ASEAN Business Council: Singapore General Election 2025: Political Landscape and Policy Continuity Right
- Singapore News Today: Singapore's 2025 Election: PAP's Precarious Victory and What It Means Centre