Singapore ruling PAP wins decisive GE2025 victory with 65.57% vote share
Singapore held its 14th general election on May 3rd, 2025. The People's Action Party, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, won a commanding victory, securing 87 of 97 parliamentary seats and capturing 65.57 percent of the popular vote—up from 61.2 percent in 2020. The opposition Workers' Party retained its ten seats but failed to gain ground in new constituencies despite contesting in eight areas. Overall voter turnout was 92.5 percent. A record 31 women were elected to parliament, and 211 candidates competed for positions. The election was closely watched as Wong's first as prime minister and occurred amid concerns about cost of living, employment, and housing affordability. The result reflects public preference for the ruling party's promise of economic stability during global uncertainty.
Key facts
- PAP won 87 of 97 seats with 65.57% vote share, up from 61.2% in 2020
- Workers' Party retained 10 seats, gaining two additional non-constituency seats
- Voter turnout was 92.5%, a decrease from 95.8% in 2020
- Record 31 women elected to parliament, up from 27 in 2020
- 211 candidates contested; 11 political parties plus 2 independents participated
- Prime Minister Lawrence Wong secured his first electoral mandate after assuming office in May 2024
- Cost of living was the top voter concern ahead of the election
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning sources and human rights groups highlighted the election within Singapore's authoritarian political context, noting concerns about restricted freedoms of expression and assembly. Some observers pointed to limited democratic space, curbs on opposition funding and media coverage, and government use of defamation laws against critics—suggesting the PAP's victory reflected structural advantages rather than solely voter preference.
Right-leaning coverage: Business-focused and conservative outlets emphasized the election's implications for economic stability and investor confidence. They stressed that PAP's strong mandate signals policy predictability, technocratic governance, and reassurance for businesses facing global trade tensions—positioning the result as validating proven economic management and regional reliability.
Limits of this briefing
While mainstream centrist, business, and official sources are well-represented, independent left-leaning media coverage specific to the election is limited in available sources. Most left-leaning critique comes from international human rights organizations rather than Singapore-based opposition media.
Sources
- ABC News: People's Action Party wins yet another election by landslide in Singapore Centre
- Al Jazeera: Singapore's ruling party wins election in landslide Centre
- Asia Society Policy Institute: Singapore's Ruling Party Wins, but the Opposition Is Here to Stay Left
- US-ASEAN Business Council: Singapore General Election 2025 (GE2025): Political Landscape and Policy Continuity Right
- Human Rights Watch: World Report 2026: Singapore Left