Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has won a landslide victory in the country’s general election, giving Prime Minister Lawrence Wong a strong mandate to lead.
The party won 87 out of 97 seats in Parliament, with 65.57 percent of the more than 2.4 million votes cast.
This gives Wong solid support to guide the country through tough times, especially with worries about new trade tariffs from the United States.
“Singaporeans gave the PAP a strong mandate to govern,” Wong told a news conference hours after the official results were announced.
“The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world,” he said, adding they were a “clear signal of trust, stability and confidence in your government”.
This was Wong’s first major election since becoming prime minister last year, taking over from Lee Hsien Loong.
Wong warned that new US tariffs could hurt Singapore’s economy and asked voters to support him so he could keep the country open and competitive.
Even though more young voters are listening to the opposition, and PAP has faced some scandals, the party still increased its support compared to the 2020 election.
The Workers’ Party (WP), the largest opposition group, hoped to gain more seats but only kept its previous 10.
The party had attracted large crowds during the campaign, but it didn’t turn into more votes.
PAP has ruled Singapore since its independence and is known for keeping the country stable and wealthy. However, it has also been criticised for limiting free speech and political competition.
Wong’s strong leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic helped boost his popularity.
With this big win, he now has the power to make important changes to protect Singapore’s economy from global problems.
