Singapore yesterday finalized contestants for its general election on Saturday next week, with the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) fielding 32 new candidates in the biggest refresh of the party that has ruled the city-state since independence in 1965.
The move follows a pledge by Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財), who took office last year and assumed the PAP leadership, to “bring in new blood, new ideas and new energy” to steer the country of 6 million people.
His latest shake-up beats that of predecessors Lee Hsien Loong (李顯龍) and Goh Chok Tong (吳作棟), who replaced 24 and 11 politicians respectively in their first elections as prime minister.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The ballot is the first big test for 52-year-old Wong and his party’s share of the popular vote would be closely watched after one of its worst performances in the 2020 contest.
The election also comes as Singapore faces uncertainty in its trade-reliant economy and the possibility of a recession and job losses caused by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, even though the wealthy city-state would be subject to only a 10 percent levy, compared with much steeper levies imposed on its neighbors.
Last week, Singapore downgraded its growth forecast for this year to 0 to 2 percent from the previous 1 to 3 percent range.
The PAP would be boosted by a walkover in a contest with five seats, with opposition parties fielding candidates for only 92 of the 97 available parliamentary spots in a surprise pullout by the Workers’ Party in one constituency.
In a departure from previous elections, the PAP and its main opposition played their cards close to their chests, revealing candidates in key races only late on, among them Singaporean Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong (顏金勇), who changed constituency at the 11th hour.
PAP politicians who stepped down include old guard heavyweights Singaporean Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen (黃永宏), Singaporean Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean (張志賢) and Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat (王瑞傑), who was once tipped for the prime minister spot.
The Workers’ Party, which has a long-term goal of winning a third of seats, is fielding just 26 candidates. Although it alone poses no significant threat to the PAP’s rule, it has steadily gained ground in the past few elections, with an unprecedented six seats in 2011 and 2015, and 10 in 2020.
Chief among election issues for the 2.76 million registered voters would be living costs and the fallout of trade tensions.
In a swipe at his opponents on Tuesday, Wong said Singaporeans would hear “many tempting proposals” ahead of the election that might not be sound.
“If they weaken our public finances, the burden will fall on our children. If we mismanage the economy, investors will lose confidence and our incomes will suffer,” he wrote on social media.
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