Singapore's PAP wins landslide in 2025 election with 87 of 97 seats
Singapore held its general election on May 3rd, 2025. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's People's Action Party secured a decisive victory, winning 87 of the 97 contested parliamentary seats and capturing 65.57 percent of the popular vote, up from 61.23 percent in 2020. Voter turnout was 92.83 percent. The opposition Workers' Party retained its ten elected seats but failed to gain ground in new constituencies, ending up with twelve total seats including two non-constituency positions. Only two parties won seats in parliament. The election marked Wong's first electoral test as party leader and came amid voter concerns over rising costs of living, housing affordability, and employment security. Nine other opposition parties and two independent candidates lost their races. The result signals continued political stability and PAP dominance in Singapore's governance for the next five years.
Key facts
- PAP won 87 of 97 contested seats in Singapore GE2025 held on May 3, 2025
- PAP popular vote increased to 65.57 percent from 61.23 percent in 2020
- Workers' Party won 10 elected seats plus 2 non-constituency seats for total of 12 seats
- Only two parties won seats in parliament; nine opposition parties and two independents lost
- Voter turnout was 92.83 percent despite compulsory voting for citizens over 21
- Election was Lawrence Wong's first as PAP leader since becoming prime minister in December 2024
- Cost of living and housing affordability were top voter concerns during campaign
- Electoral boundaries underwent extensive redrawing before the election, affecting numerous constituencies
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning voices emphasize that despite widespread public discontent over cost of living, housing costs, and the 9 percent GST hike, voters paradoxically returned the PAP with an expanded majority. Progressive critics note that many opposition parties campaigned on reducing GST, providing free healthcare and education, and tighter foreign worker controls, but voters rejected these calls for change, suggesting pragmatism may outweigh demand for alternatives.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning perspectives stress that voters made a pragmatic choice, endorsing the PAP's experienced leadership and warnings against opposition proposals that could weaken public finances and investment. The landslide is interpreted as validation of stable governance under Wong's new leadership and rejection of calls for radical checks and balances that could undermine Singapore's economic competitiveness.
Limits of this briefing
Sources generally present factual results but lack extensive analysis from explicitly far-left or libertarian perspectives. Some sources note ongoing debates about electoral boundary transparency and gerrymandering allegations, though no definitive findings on whether boundaries unfairly favored either side were presented in available sources.
Sources
- CNBC: Singapore's Wong retains power as ruling People's Action Party boosts vote share in landslide victory Centre
- The Diplomat: Singapore's PAP Scores Decisive Victory in General Election Centre
- Asia Society: Singapore's Ruling Party Wins, but the Opposition Is Here to Stay Centre
- South China Morning Post: Singapore election: why can't the opposition make inroads? Centre
- Bloomberg: Singapore Elections 2025: Why Margin of Win Matters for PM Lawrence Wong Centre