Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) appeared set for another strong election result on Saturday, with preliminary vote counts indicating a likely victory in the country’s general election. If confirmed, it would mark the PAP’s 14th consecutive win, continuing its governance of the city-state since before independence in 1965.
Initial vote sample data from 32 contested constituencies suggested the PAP was leading in all but three. Including five seats already secured without contest, the party was projected to win 87 out of 97 seats in Parliament.
The election served as an indicator of public sentiment toward the PAP, whose long tenure in power has shaped Singapore’s political landscape. Attention was focused on whether opposition parties would be able to build on gains from the previous election and challenge the PAP’s dominant position.
The Workers’ Party, Singapore’s main opposition group, was expected to secure 10 seats—the same number it held following the last election. This figure represents the largest share of seats held by an opposition party in the country.
While the PAP has historically held a large majority of parliamentary seats, its share of the popular vote is closely observed as a measure of its electoral support. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong aimed to improve on the party’s 60.1% vote share from the 2020 election, which was among its lowest recorded.
Final results were anticipated in the early hours of Sunday. According to the election commission, early sample counts had a margin of error of around 4%.
Cost of living and housing availability were key issues for voters in this election. These remain priorities for the government, which has also raised concerns about economic risks, including the impact of global trade tensions and tariffs on Singapore’s export-driven economy.
This was the first general election led by Prime Minister Wong, 52, who assumed office last year as Singapore’s fourth prime minister. He succeeded Lee Hsien Loong, who served for two decades and is the son of the country’s founding leader, Lee Kuan Yew. Wong has pledged to continue the country’s current path while introducing new perspectives in leadership.
