The time has come for a new general election in Singapore.
From the return of physical rallies to new faces in politics, it is clear that many factors will shape the outcome of GE2025—all of which could potentially affect the balance of power in Singapore’s government.
This is especially true for the People’s Action Party (PAP), which has been the city-state’s ruling party for decades. But what makes this general election pivotal for them?
Let’s take a look at the reasons why PAP may or may not continue to be favoured by electorates in GE2025.
Singapore’s stability as compared to the rest of the world
One key reason why PAP may continue to be favoured with electorates this year is the unstable global geopolitical climate.
Singapore, under the PAP’s leadership, has earned a reputation as a stable nation compared to other countries on the global stage.
The geopolitical climate has become increasingly volatile, marked by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the threat of tariffs under a second term of Donald Trump as President.
The “instability” of the world was something that Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong noted in his roundup speech for Budget 2025.
The entire global system is changing. We see it unfolding in real time before our eyes. The multilateral trading system has been weakened by growing protectionist sentiments and unilateral measures. Countries are focusing more on their defence and security interests. So it’s become more about zero-sum competition rather than win-win cooperation.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on today’s geopolitical climate
Despite the chaos, Singapore continues to be seen as a beacon of stability on the international front. Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, underscored that the country enjoys a significant advantage by not needing to “beg for aid” from other nations.
“The fact that everybody knows that we are good for our money, and we put our blood where we stand on, is the core of deterrence and respect,” he firmly stated in a parliamentary session on March 3, 2025.
This sentiment is echoed by global figures as well. American political scientist and former U.S. Assistant Defense Secretary Graham Allison, in an op-ed, shared that based on several global surveys, Singapore is “better at governing” than both the United States and Great Britain.
He specifically pointed out that Singapore ranks among the most stable countries, with the World Bank placing it in the 97th percentile for political stability and absence of violence/terrorism.
Amid an uncertain economic climate, this reputation for stable governance could prove advantageous for the PAP, as many may opt for proven leadership in times of global turbulence.
The key advantage of being the ruling party
Based on past election results, there’s no denying that the PAP holds a wider footprint across Singapore. Their grassroots coverage remains extensive, and they’ve consistently maintained a visible presence — even in opposition-held constituencies.
This deep-rooted presence not only reinforces the PAP’s influence but also raises questions about whether the playing field is truly level.
An example of this influence is seen in the distribution of Edusave bursary awards, which are given to deserving students from low- and middle-income families.
In opposition wards, elected MPs are excluded from giving out these awards—a role instead handed to Grassroots Advisers appointed by the People’s Association (PA), typically comprising PAP MPs, whether elected or unelected.
Opposition parties, on the other hand, tend to have smaller teams and fewer resources, which naturally makes it harder to build ground presence and connect with residents on a larger scale. While this doesn’t diminish their efforts, it presents a greater challenge in matching the PAP’s extensive network.
In addition to this, political parties also have to navigate the redrawing of electoral boundaries—a process that, according to the Elections Department Singapore, is meant to “reflect population growth and shifts.”
While this practice isn’t unique to Singapore, as many countries redraw electoral maps to account for demographic changes; these changes are typically announced just two to three months before campaigning begins, giving political parties limited time to familiarise themselves with new constituencies and engage residents.
The tight timeline poses a bigger challenge for opposition parties with fewer resources, as they must be more strategic in allocating their manpower and efforts to key battleground wards.
With the PAP’s larger network and deeper resources, it’s clear that the ruling party holds the upper hand in adapting to these boundary shifts.
Confidence in the opposition parties has eroded
To make matters more difficult for opposition parties, Singaporeans’ trust in them may have diminished in recent years. The Workers’ Party (WP), in particular, has faced increasing public scrutiny, which intensified following recent events.
Most notably, WP’s leader, Pritam Singh, faced a legal trial in October and November 2024. The court found him guilty of lying to a parliamentary committee about a false anecdote shared by former WP member and Sengkang GRC MP Raeesah Khan, according to CNA.
Although Mr Singh was fined S$7,000, the 48-year-old MP announced in February that he would appeal the verdict and continue his campaign in the 2025 General Elections.
The WP also saw two prominent members resign in 2023—Nicole Seah and former Aljunied GRC MP Leon Perera—following the circulation of a video on Facebook alleging an extramarital affair between them.
These events, combined with the party’s previous scandals, likely have affected the public’s trust in the WP, adding another stain on their history.
Meanwhile, other opposition parties like the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) have also “struggled” to build credibility with both Parliament and the public.
In particular, Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) and PSP member Leong Mun Wai has engaged in “heated exchanges” with ruling party ministers in and out of parliament, while Dr Chee Soon Juan, SDP’s Secretary-General, has faced multiple legal issues related to rallies and protests in the past.
Both Dr Chee and Mr Leong were also given POFMA orders in February 2024—the former for his social media videos on public housing policies and the latter for publishing “false statements” alleging that a married couple did not receive financial aid from the government.
As a result, Mr. Leong stepped down as PSP’s Secretary-General, although he remains on the party’s central executive committee.
All in all, with their current track record, it may be some time before Singapore sees an opposition party take the lead in government.
Yet, a win for the PAP is not guaranteed
That said, the PAP should not become complacent, as they too have faced their own controversies in recent years, which have tarnished their previously “squeaky-clean image”.
Back in July 2023, before the Workers’ Party’s (WP) extramarital affair scandal was made public, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, then Prime Minister of Singapore, announced the resignations of former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan Jin and Tampines GRC MP Cheng Li Hui for having an “inappropriate relationship.”
In the same year, Mr Tan, also an MP for Marine Parade GRC, was involved in a separate controversy after a hot mic incident in April, where he was heard calling Sengkang GRC MP Jamus Lim a “fxxing populist”.
Mr Tan later apologized, which A/P Lim accepted.
In January 2024, Singapore’s former Minister for Transport and West Coast GRC MP S. Iswaran was charged with corruption and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison in October 2024 and later placed on the Home Detention Scheme in February 2025.
Meanwhile, many Singaporeans have raised concerns about key issues like rising living costs and property prices. In response, PM Lawrence Wong announced Singapore’s 2025 Budget in February, aiming to address these challenges.
However, some, including WP chief Pritam Singh, have criticised certain measures. Mr Singh, during a parliament session on February 28, 2025, had some choice words to say about the Goods and Services Tax (GST) increase, claiming it has “turbocharged inflation”.
This sparked widespread debate, with former NCMP Calvin Cheng agreeing with Mr Singh, while NUS Associate Professor Ben Leong disagreed.
In response to the criticism, PM Wong acknowledged the complexity of these issues and emphasised that the government is actively working on solutions, as he shared in his Budget 2025 roundup speech and a subsequent post on his Facebook page.
Where is the turbocharging? Look, I know elections are approaching, but this Chamber is not an election rally. Let’s not get carried away by hyperbole, and have a debate based on facts.
PM Wong’s direct response to WP’s chief Pritam Singh.
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Since winning majority seats in the 1959 General Elections under the late Mr Lee Kwan Yew’s leadership, the PAP has asserted itself as Singapore’s ruling party—a streak that has continued until today.
However, signs of waning support have emerged in recent years. According to Yahoo!, the 2020 General Election (GE2020) saw the PAP deliver its worst electoral performance since Singapore’s independence in 1965.
While the ruling party secured 61.24% of the votes and 83 out of 93 parliamentary seats, it was a notable drop from the 69.9% vote share it achieved in the 2015 election.
In that same election, PAP lost another Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) to the Workers Party (WP) that year: the newly formed Sengkang GRC. This marked the first time in history that the opposition had won two GRCs since the system was introduced in 1988.
It’s also worth mentioning that PAP “narrowly” won West Coast GRC with 51.68% of the votes, defeating the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), led by Tan Cheng Bock, who received 48.32%.
The swing in voter sentiment during GE2020 showed how quickly the balance of power can shift, and the city-state has witnessed how the once-strong PAP government could face a potential overhaul.
With the goal to win over 60% of the electoral votes and the new 4G leaders at the helm, the stakes are higher than ever for PAP in this year’s General Elections.
No matter which side of the political spectrum one leans toward, it is critical for Singaporeans to understand the weight of their vote. A freak election result could lead to not just domestic but also global challenges that the government may not be able to manage effectively.
As the world becomes more uncertain, the fate of the little red dot lies in its citizens’ hands.
- Read more articles we have written on GE2025 here.
- Read more articles we have written on Singapore’s current affairs here.
Featured Image Credit: People’s Action Party via Facebook, edited by Vulcan Post
