PAP retains supermajority in Singapore GE2025 with 65.57% vote share
Singapore held its 2025 general election on May 3rd, with the ruling People's Action Party securing 87 of 97 parliamentary seats and 65.57 percent of the vote—up from 61.24 percent in 2020. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong won his first election since taking office, delivering a decisive mandate. The opposition Workers' Party retained all 10 of its seats, the best opposition showing in Singapore's history, and will gain two additional non-constituency member positions. With 92.47 percent voter turnout, Singaporeans cast their ballots against a backdrop of rising cost-of-living concerns, including food and housing price increases and the 9 percent goods and services tax hike. Global economic uncertainty, particularly around US trade tensions, also shaped voter sentiment. Other opposition parties failed to gain seats, with only the PAP and Workers' Party winning elected office. The outcome signals strong public confidence in the PAP's approach to economic stability during turbulent times.
Key facts
- PAP won 87 of 97 seats; Workers' Party retained 10 seats; voter turnout was 92.47 percent
- PAP vote share increased to 65.57% from 61.24% in 2020
- Cost of living was the top voter concern, with 79% citing increased living costs as major worry
- Record 211 candidates contested, including 53 women—highest female representation in Singapore history
- Workers' Party vote share rose nearly 4 percentage points to 15% despite contesting only limited constituencies
- Global economic uncertainty from US-China trade tensions and inflation influenced voter sentiment toward continuity
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Progressive critics emphasize that rising cost-of-living pressures—particularly the GST increase, food and housing costs, and widening wealth gaps—were central voter concerns that opposition parties attempted to address. Some analyses note that the PAP's message of stability and warnings against "tempting but unsound" alternatives resonated despite legitimate economic challenges. Opposition performance was constrained by structural factors including limited institutional resources and unequal media access compared to the ruling party.
Right-leaning coverage: Business-oriented commentary highlights the PAP's decisive mandate as positive for clarity, predictability, and investor confidence. The election validates the ruling party's disciplined fiscal management and pragmatic approach to global challenges. Some analyses praise the PAP's strong performance in new constituencies and the rejection of opposition proposals that could weaken public finances, while noting opposition fragmentation as a limiting factor on political alternatives.
Limits of this briefing
Coverage of opposition perspectives is limited to analysis of party statements and post-election commentary rather than extensive pre-election opposition media; electoral system structures and boundary changes remain subjects of contested interpretation regarding their fairness.
Sources
- Yahoo News Singapore: Singapore General Election results; PM Lawrence Wong's PAP wins strong mandate 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 Centre
- The Online Citizen: Workers' Party reflects on GE2025 results, says opposition challenges remain real Left
- CNBC: Singapore's Wong retains power as ruling People's Action Party boosts vote share in landslide victory Centre