Singapore鈥檚 parliament was dissolved Tuesday, paving the way for general elections in which the city-state鈥檚 long-ruling People鈥檚 Action Party will seek to strengthen its dominance under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
The election will be held on May 3, the Elections Department said later in the afternoon. Victory is virtually assured for the PAP, which has led Singapore since its independence in 1965.
鈥淲e are witnessing profound changes in the world. It is becoming more uncertain, unsettled and even unstable," Wong wrote on Facebook. 鈥淭he global conditions that enabled Singapore鈥檚 success over the past decades may no longer hold. That is why I have called this General Election,鈥 adding that Singaporeans should choose 鈥漷he team to lead our nation."
Wong, who was sworn in as Singapore鈥檚 fourth leader in May last year, wants to clinch a stronger win after the PAP suffered a setback over voters鈥 rising discontent with the government.
He succeeded , who stepped down after two decades at the helm. Lee鈥檚 departure marked the end of a family dynasty started by his father, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore鈥檚 first leader who built the former colonial trading outpost into one of the world鈥檚 richest nations during 31 years in office.
In the 2020 polls held during the COVID-19 pandemic, the PAP maintained its supermajority with 83 out of 93 seats. But it ceded more seats to the opposition, which increased its parliamentary representation from six to 10, the highest ever. The PAP鈥檚 share of popular support also slipped to a near-record low of 61%.
As Wong heads into his first general election as PAP chief, he has sought to reach out to disgruntled younger voters. He launched a 鈥淔orward Singapore鈥 plan that aims to give Singaporeans a say in how to develop a more balanced, vibrant and inclusive agenda for the next generation.
The PAP will field more than 30 new candidates to refresh the party. Wong has warned that 鈥渨ho you have in the cockpit matters鈥 amid economic uncertainties as hit the global trading system.
鈥淭he biggest contest we face isn鈥檛 between political parties, it鈥檚 Singapore vs the world,鈥 Wong said in a Facebook post earlier this week. 鈥淥ur mission ... is clear: to keep our nation a shining beacon of stability, progress and hope.鈥
While Singapore has flourished as one of the world鈥檚 wealthiest nations, it has also become one of the most expensive cities to live in. The PAP has been criticized for tight government control and a government-knows-best stance, media censorship and the use of oppressive laws against dissidents.
Issues like widening income disparity, increasingly unaffordable housing, overcrowding caused by immigration and restrictions on free speech have also loosened the PAP鈥檚 grip on power.
