Singapore’s ruling party sweeps elections as voters shun risk

Singapore’s ruling party romped to a strong election victory on Friday and increased its share of the vote and seat tally as it brushed off an opposition challenge in the city state’s most hotly contested polls. The People’s Action Party (PAP), which has ruled since independence in 1965, was always expected to win but opposition parties, contesting in all seats for the first time, had hoped to gain enough votes to challenge its domination of politics.

We are very grateful, we are very happy and at the same time, we are very humbled by the result. Tomorrow will be better than today.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

Friday’s result showed the opposition failed to make a dent despite highlighting the country’s various problems such as income disparity, restrictions on free speech, overcrowding caused by immigration, and the rising cost of living — Singapore is the world’s most expensive city, according to an international survey.

There has…been a real effort on the government’s part to fix the worst of their problems, and be seen fixing the worst of their problems. The PAP has been campaigning since 2011 to get this result, and it has paid off.

Michael Barr, associate professor of international relations at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia

Asia-Pacific Singapore election