Singapore PAP wins decisive election victory amid cost-of-living concerns
On May 3, 2025, Singapore held its general election with high voter turnout of over 92 percent. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's People's Action Party secured 87 of 97 parliamentary seats and increased its popular vote share to 65.57 percent, up from 61.23 percent in 2020. The opposition Workers' Party retained its existing seats and gained two additional ones, bringing its total to 12 seats with 14.99 percent of the vote. This was Wong's first election as prime minister since taking office in December 2024, and marked a significant generational transition for both the ruling party and opposition. The election was contested during a period when Singaporeans expressed concerns about rising cost of living, housing affordability, and employment security. All other opposition parties failed to win seats, leaving only the PAP and Workers' Party represented in Parliament. The result reflects voter preference for political and policy continuity.
Key facts
- PAP won 87 of 97 seats with 65.57% popular vote, up from 61.23% in 2020
- Workers' Party increased from 10 to 12 seats with 14.99% of the vote
- Voter turnout was 92.83%, slightly down from previous election
- Lawrence Wong became first PAP prime minister elected to office in December 2024
- Cost of living was identified as top voter concern ahead of the election
- Only PAP and Workers' Party won seats; nine opposition parties and two independents lost
- Record 211 candidates contested, including 53 women, highest female candidate number ever
- Electoral boundaries were redrawn, creating four additional contested seats totaling 97
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning sources highlight concerns about Singapore's rising cost of living and inequality, noting that over 30 percent of Singaporeans report insufficient income for decent living standards. They emphasize that critics argue the PAP's consistent Goods and Services Tax hikes have worsened inflation, and that despite strong opposition rally turnout and robust manifestos, meaningful change remains limited under the dominant PAP system.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning and business-focused sources emphasize that the PAP's reaffirmed mandate signals political stability and policy consistency that benefits business confidence. They highlight the smooth transition to younger-generation leadership, constituency-level achievements during the campaign, and the government's focus on national initiatives like digitalization and workforce development, positioning Singapore as a predictable regional gateway.
Limits of this briefing
Sources show limited direct left-leaning critical commentary from within Singapore itself, with most critical perspectives coming from regional or international outlets. Some concerns about electoral fairness and gerrymandering are noted by analysts but remain contested; detailed breakdown of opposition party-specific performance is limited in available sources.
Sources
- The Asia Group: The Results of Singapore's General Election 2025 Centre
- 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 Left
- US-ASEAN Business Council: Singapore General Election 2025: Political Landscape and Policy Continuity Right
- Blackbox Research: GE2025: How the PAP Clinched a Convincing Win - And What the Data Tells Us Centre