Singapore PAP wins landslide with 87 of 97 seats, increases vote share to 65.57%
On May 3rd, Singapore held its general election with a voter turnout of about 93 percent. The ruling People's Action Party, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, won a decisive victory, securing 87 of the 97 parliamentary seats and increasing its vote share to 65.57 percent, up from 61.23 percent in 2020. The opposition Workers' Party retained its 10 elected seats and gained two additional seats through the constitutional allocation process, bringing its total to 12 seats. The election marked Lawrence Wong's first campaign as Prime Minister since taking office in December 2024. Key campaign issues included cost of living, housing affordability, employment, and economic uncertainty from global trade tensions. Despite public discontent over rising costs, voters chose continuity over change, delivering the PAP one of its strongest recent mandates.
Key facts
- PAP won 87 of 97 parliamentary seats on May 3, 2025
- PAP vote share increased to 65.57 percent, up 4.34 percentage points from 2020
- Voter turnout was 92.83 percent out of 2,758,846 eligible electors
- Workers' Party retained 10 elected seats with 14.99 percent of popular vote
- Lawrence Wong's first election as Prime Minister since taking office December 2024
- Cost of living remained voters' primary concern according to January 2025 polling
- Singapore GDP growth forecast downgraded to 0-2 percent in April 2025
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: The opposition Workers' Party and critics framed the election around a cost-of-living crisis, with WP leader Pritam Singh blaming PAP's GST hikes for turbocharging inflation. Opposition parties proposed wealth taxes on the top 1 percent, minimum corporate tax rates, and reforms to public housing. However, despite strong rally turnout and robust manifestos, the opposition failed to break through, suggesting voters prioritized stability over opposition demands for greater economic redistribution and checks on government power.
Right-leaning coverage: Business and institutional perspectives highlighted the PAP's success in maintaining economic stability, managing inflation, and keeping unemployment low despite global headwinds. The strong mandate signals continued policy predictability and regulatory clarity beneficial to Singapore's business environment. The election outcome reinforced Singapore's positioning as a stable and trusted regional gateway in Southeast Asia, reassuring international investors and partners of consistent governance amid volatile global conditions. The PAP's focus on digitalization and workforce development indicates continuity in pro-growth economic strategies.
Limits of this briefing
Left-leaning independent analysis and opposition party perspective articles were limited in available sources; coverage skewed toward centrist and business-oriented outlets. Nuanced debate on electoral fairness concerns, including gerrymandering allegations, was mentioned but not deeply explored in most sources.
Sources
- South China Morning Post: Singapore election: how ruling PAP scored massive win, denying breakthrough for opposition Centre
- Asia Society: Singapore's Ruling Party Wins, but the Opposition Is Here to Stay Centre
- US-ASEAN Business Council: Singapore General Election 2025 (GE2025): Political Landscape and Policy Continuity Right
- CNBC: Singapore's Wong retains power as ruling People's Action Party boosts vote share in landslide victory Centre
- East Asia Forum: People's Action Party prevails in Singapore Centre