
Singapore's ruling party extends hold with sweeping win in general elections
Singapore 's People's Action Party (PAP) has secured another decisive victory in Saturday's general election, winning 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats and 65.6 per cent of the popular vote, according to the Election Department.
The result marks a strong endorsement for prime minister Lawrence Wong in his first electoral test as head of government, a year after he took over leadership of the long-ruling party.
The outcome not only extends the PAP's uninterrupted 66-year rule but also reflects a swing in support from its near-record low of 61.2 per cent in the 2020 polls.
Voters backed the party in a campaign shaped by economic headwinds and regional instability, delivering early wins in key battlegrounds like Punggol GRC, Tampines GRC, and Jalan Kayu SMC.
At a press conference following the vote count, Mr Wong described the result as 'deeply humbling' and 'a clear signal of trust, stability and confidence' from Singaporeans. He acknowledged that voters also wanted more alternative voices in government, but said the strong PAP mandate would give Singapore the best chance to navigate an uncertain world.
'The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world,' he said. 'We will honour the mandate you have given us.'
Thanking voters for their support, Mr Wong said his immediate priority would be to form a Cabinet and confirmed that all key MPs had been returned to Parliament. 'I will announce the Cabinet line-up when ready,' he added.
A US-trained economist and current finance minister, Mr Wong had appealed for a strong mandate to guide Singapore through economic headwinds worsened by global trade tensions and protectionist policies. At 52, he now faces the challenge of addressing rising living costs and a housing crunch, even as the economy braces for a potential recession.
Despite retaining its 10 seats, the opposition Workers' Party saw heavy losses in many constituencies. PAP candidates won more than two-thirds of the vote in 18 of 33 contested races.
Leader of the Opposition and the WP's secretary general Pritam Singh told supporters: 'We start work again tomorrow, and we go again.
'Your support has been so important in the mission of achieving and working towards a more balanced parliament. That work also continues.'
'The voters have spoken and they have voted for stability, for continuity, for certainty – and they voted to give Prime Minister Lawrence Wong a strong mandate,' said Mustafa Izzuddin, adjunct senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore, told Reuters.
Mr Wong's victory marks the beginning of a new chapter in Singapore's leadership. He succeeded Lee Hsien Loong in May 2024, becoming the city-state's fourth prime minister. Mr Lee, who stepped down after 20 years in office, remains in Cabinet as a senior minister. His retirement closed a significant chapter in Singapore's political history, ending a family dynasty that began with founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who led the nation for 31 years and transformed it into one of the world's most developed economies.
Speaking after the results, Mr Wong acknowledged emerging signs of a slowdown in Singapore's economy and pledged to treat it as a priority. 'We will do more to get Singapore through the storm safely,' he said.
He emphasised that the real contest was not between the PAP and the opposition, but between Singapore and a turbulent global environment.
Framing the country as a perennial underdog, Mr Wong urged unity over division: 'Singapore is the underdog we have always been, and we will continue to be, despite what we have achieved today. So to improve our chances, we cannot afford to fight one another.'
He also warned against attempts to sway voters along racial or religious lines, reinforcing the PAP's message of multiracial harmony and national resilience.
World leaders were quick to extend their congratulations to Mr Wong and the PAP following their victory.
The US, a longstanding ally, reaffirmed its commitment to the relationship. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the nearly 60-year strategic partnership between the two nations, calling it 'strong and enduring.'
'We look forward to continuing to work closely with the newly elected government and Prime Minister Wong to strengthen economic growth and our bilateral defence and security ties,' he said.
Regional leaders echoed the sentiment. Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto praised the 'decisive victory' as a reflection of Singaporeans' trust in Wong's leadership and said he looked forward to strengthening bilateral ties.
Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba also extended his congratulations, adding that he hoped to deepen cooperation as the two countries approach the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.
India's prime minister Narendra Modi described the Singapore-India relationship as 'strong and multifaceted' and said he looked forward to working closely with Mr Wong to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Malaysia's prime minister Anwar Ibrahim spoke of the 'enduring ties of kith and kin' between the two countries, highlighting the importance of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and said it could become 'a shining example of what neighbours can achieve, with conviction and shared purpose'.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Channel 4
2 hours ago
- Channel 4
25 killed in Gaza near aid site as Netanyahu government waits on crucial vote
In Gaza another 25 people have been killed near an aid distribution site, according to Palestinian reports – Israel's military said it was aware of reports of casualties and was investigating. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which operates the aid hubs, admitted there was 'not yet enough food to feed everyone in need in Gaza'. Meanwhile, the Israeli Government may face a vote later to dissolve the Knesset.


Reuters
5 hours ago
- Reuters
China puts six-month limit on its ease of rare-earth export licenses, WSJ reports
June 11 (Reuters) - China is putting a six-month limit on rare-earth export licenses for U.S. automakers and manufacturers, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday citing people familiar with the matter.


New Statesman
6 hours ago
- New Statesman
Inside Trump's Oval Office
Donald Trump with the British ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, in the Oval Office. Photo by Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images To foreign visitors, walking into President Trump's Oval Office has become akin to entering the Colosseum. My fellow ambassadors spend days trying to persuade the White House to allow their incoming head of government to forgo the thrill of the Oval media spray, or at least have the closed-door lunch beforehand as an early barometer of what may be on the president's mind. None succeed. The president is eager for the fray, and the visitor's secret of success is to leave him to it, stay relaxed, speak when spoken to and never take the bait. Keir Starmer's Oval appearance is viewed across Washington's diplomatic corps as the model. It's just a shame that not all of them have a popular king from whom to deliver a state visit invitation. Art of the deal The US-UK trade deal was smart, nimble diplomacy by my embassy and London officials – met by an equal measure of professionalism and goodwill from President Trump's team. When I entered the anything-can-happen Oval Office and picked my way past the Churchill bust and gilt adornments to take my place behind the Resolute desk for the trade deal's launch, the White House protocol officer issued me with clear instructions to stand behind the president and say nothing. I was there in a purely supporting capacity, while the Prime Minister was poised to be dialled in from Jaguar Land Rover's West Midlands HQ to give his endorsement to the VE-Day deal. President Trump was enjoying himself. The conversation and the cameras rolled on, and I was gazing around, soaking in the atmosphere when suddenly he looked over his shoulder and asked if I had anything to say. Luckily my political skills kicked in, my Rolls-Royce gag worked, and I was praised for my 'beautiful accent'. More than an hour (which seemed like a week) later, the press were herded out. The president brandished his trademark Sharpie and presented me with a signed copy of his talking points, plus a stash of signed Maga caps for my staff. They had earned them. No contest My conclusion from listening to the president on this and other occasions is that the secret of his political success is that he always knows what he wants to say, means it when he says it and is never lost for words. He is not gun-shy. The discipline of the administration – Elon Musk notwithstanding – is impressive. Compared with Trump 1, when freelancing secretaries and congressional revolts were widespread in the party, Republicans now are remarkably careful not to show any difference from the president. I regularly commute to the Hill to see House and Senate members, who may not all be cut from the same Trumpian cloth, but have nonetheless heard the views of their electoral base. The Maga movers and shakers who were instrumental to the Trump victory, and now form the DC establishment, are not ideologues. Nonetheless, like Trump and his forceful vice-president, JD Vance, they have clearly formed instincts and deeply held beliefs. They want to see these reflected in pioneering, radical domestic and foreign policies, unfettered by more conventionally minded civil servants and others they refer to as 'the Deep State'. They are impatient and ruthless, and leave those with more moderate politics flailing, unable to decide whether to stick up for their centrism or outflank them to the left. Democrats are, so far, at a loss to know how to oppose Trump. They hold on to the hope that history rhymes, the pendulum will swing and they will regain the House, if not the Senate, in the 2026 midterms. They may well be right, but hope, as they say, is not a strategy. Dog days There is no doubt that for my husband, Reinaldo, and me, living in a historic residence with such a beautiful garden is both a privilege and hard work, with all the hosting and entertaining that comes with the job. It is expected that 18,000 visitors will join us at receptions, events, dinners, salons and roundtables this year. Unfortunately, I cannot compete with my predecessors who conducted a lot of their diplomatic work on the residence's tennis court, but I do have another asset: Jock, the universally popular Ambassa-Dog, who is shortly to make his Instagram debut. He has all the wonderful qualities you associate with a collie and visitors queue up to throw his ball for him, which he retrieves and leaves at other guests' feet. But he is best not startled after he has turned in for the night, as Dame Emily Thornberry, the warm and redoubtable chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, discovered when she strayed into our flat rather than her bedroom when returning to the residence after an evening of networking on the Hill. [See also: How Russia became a franchise of the Wagner Group] Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Related