Singapore PAP wins landslide in GE2025, expanding supermajority to 87 seats
Singapore held its general election on May third, two thousand twenty-five. The ruling People's Action Party, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, won eighty-seven of ninety-seven contested parliamentary seats, increasing its vote share to sixty-five point five-seven percent from sixty-one point two percent in twenty-twenty. The opposition Workers' Party retained its ten seats from the previous election and gained two additional non-constituency MP positions, bringing them to twelve total. Voter turnout reached ninety-two point eight-three percent among two point six million registered voters. The election took place amid concerns about rising living costs, geopolitical uncertainty, and Trump administration tariffs. All other opposition parties failed to win seats. The PAP's victory gives Prime Minister Wong a strong mandate as he leads Singapore through what analysts describe as a period of global economic volatility and trade uncertainty.
Key facts
- PAP won 87 of 97 contested seats, up from 83 in 2020
- PAP vote share increased to 65.57 percent from 61.24 percent in 2020
- Workers Party maintained 10 seats and gained 2 NCMP positions, total 12
- Overall voter turnout was 92.83 percent
- Total of 2,429,281 votes cast across Singapore
- Record 211 candidates contested, including 53 women
- Nine opposition parties and two independent candidates won no seats
- Only PAP and Workers Party won parliamentary representation
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning critics highlight concerns about Singapore's cost-of-living crisis, with critics arguing the PAP's GST hikes have driven up expenses. Some observers point to erosions of democratic norms including press freedom and free speech concerns. Progressive outlets also note that while the election showed voters' desire for stability, growing segments of the population, particularly younger and higher-income voters, express concerns about governance style and democratic oversight.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning outlets stress the PAP's decisive mandate and strong governance capability. They emphasize the party's experience managing Singapore through crisis, its pro-business orientation, and the rejection of opposition calls for GST cuts and housing reforms as unrealistic. Conservative analysis frames the result as voters choosing proven competence and effective administration over untested alternative policies.
Limits of this briefing
Sources are predominantly centrist and internationally-focused, with limited coverage of explicitly right-leaning Singapore viewpoints. Some critics argue electoral boundary changes constitute gerrymandering, but this was not addressed uniformly across sources. Democratic reform advocates' perspectives are underrepresented compared to mainstream institutional analysis.
Sources
- Asia Society: Singapore's Ruling Party Wins, but the Opposition Is Here to Stay Centre
- Al Jazeera: Singapore's ruling party wins election in landslide Centre
- South China Morning Post: Singapore election: how ruling PAP scored massive win, denying breakthrough for opposition Centre
- Pandan Brief (Independent Analysis): Singapore's democratic growing pains Left
- The Asia Group: The Results of Singapore's General Election 2025 Centre