Singapore PAP wins landslide victory in general election, increases vote share
Singapore held its general election on May 3rd, 2025, with the long-ruling People's Action Party winning decisively under new leader Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The PAP secured 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats and 65.57 percent of the popular vote, an increase of 4.3 percentage points from the 2020 election. The opposition Workers' Party retained its 10 seats, consolidated opposition support in key strongholds, and gained two additional non-constituency seats. Voter turnout reached 92.83 percent, with 2.4 million votes cast. The election marked PM Wong's first electoral test since taking the helm in December 2024. Key campaign issues included cost of living, employment, housing security, and global economic uncertainty. Despite strong opposition rally attendance and vigorous debate, smaller opposition parties failed to gain parliamentary seats. The result is widely viewed as providing Wong a strong mandate to continue PAP governance amid trade tensions and regional challenges.
Key facts
- PAP won 87 of 97 seats with 65.57% vote share, up from 61.24% in 2020
- Workers' Party retained 10 seats and gained 2 non-constituency seats
- Voter turnout was 92.83%, with 2,438,610 votes cast
- Final turnout rejected 42,945 ballots
- Election held on May 3, 2025, marked PM Lawrence Wong's first as PAP leader
- Record 211 candidates contested, including 53 women candidates
- Electoral boundaries revised affecting 22 of 31 constituencies
- Opposition parties contested over gerrymandering and boundary manipulation claims
- Cost of living was the top voter concern according to January 2025 polling
- Workers' Party maintained strongholds in Aljunied, Sengkang, and Hougang GRCs
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning sources and opposition commentary emphasized concerns about democratic accountability and institutional checks on executive power. The Workers' Party campaigned on proposals for greater parliamentary oversight, including establishing an independent ombudsman office, lowering voting age to 18, and reverting to single-member constituencies. Critics also highlighted gerrymandering concerns, noting that boundary changes affected 22 of 31 constituencies and that the Elections Department reports to the Prime Minister's Office.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning sources and pro-stability commentators emphasized the PAP's strong governance mandate and continuity. They highlighted the decisive victory as reassuring to investors and foreign partners regarding ongoing political stability and policy consistency. Some noted concerns raised by smaller opposition parties about immigration and fiscal conservatism, though these parties failed to gain seats, reinforcing that voters prioritized economic management over radical policy shifts.
Limits of this briefing
Coverage reflects predominantly Singapore-based and Asia-focused sources with limited perspectives from explicitly conservative or libertarian outlets. International media covered results but with less depth on local political dynamics. Some left-leaning critiques of electoral fairness and democratic deficits come primarily from opposition manifestos and international democracy watchdogs rather than mainstream media outlets operating in Singapore.
Sources
- East Asia Forum: People's Action Party prevails in Singapore Centre
- Bloomberg: In Singapore's Election, Success Is Less About Who Wins Than By How Much Centre
- Asia Society Policy Institute: Singapore's Ruling Party Wins, but the Opposition Is Here to Stay Left
- Workers' Party Singapore: Working for Singapore: The Workers' Party Manifesto 2025 Left
- DBS: Singapore: Implications of a strong PAP election victory Right