SINGAPORE - Singapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) secured a commanding mandate in Saturday's general election, winning 65.57 percent of the popular vote, according to official results released early Sunday.

The ruling party's vote share climbed from 61.24 percent in 2020 to 65.57 percent this time, capturing 87 out of the 97 contested parliamentary seats, including several with eye-catching margins.

Lawrence Wong, who succeeded Lee Hsien Loong as Prime Minister in May 2024, after Lee's two-decade tenure, remarked early Sunday that Singaporeans had given the PAP a "clear and strong" mandate.

The election outcome indicates that voters are acutely aware of Singapore's formidable challenges, particularly in the wake of sweeping US tariffs, which have impacted countries like Singapore, heavily reliant on global trade.

A stronger victory than expected

Nearly all the closest races before the election ultimately swung in the PAP's favor.

Among the most closely contested battles were those between the PAP and the Workers' Party (WP), Singapore's largest opposition force. One of the most high-profile clashes unfolded in Punggol in the northeast, dubbed the "eye of the storm" by local media.

The PAP team in this four-seat constituency was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, who heads the Economic Resilience Taskforce launched in April to mitigate the impact of US tariffs.

Gan, in his 60s, known for his calm and collected style, is regarded as a cornerstone of the Singapore government, particularly in negotiations with the United States.

Leading the WP team was Harpreet Singh Nehal, a senior lawyer with a strong following.

Both parties attracted significant attention. The PAP highlighted that a loss in Punggol would be a severe blow for Singapore considering the important role Gan has played, while the WP questioned the PAP's notion that any individual is irreplaceable.

Ultimately, Gan's team secured the constituency with 55.17 percent of the vote, a narrower margin than the usual 60 to 70 percent PAP strongholds typically enjoy, underscoring the competitive nature of the race.

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This election also saw five multi-cornered constituencies, including the first-ever four-way contest in a general election, held in Tampines, where three opposition parties went head-to-head with the incumbent PAP team.

The PAP triumphed in all five, though Tampines was a tight squeeze, with the party securing just 52.02 percent. The other four were far more comfortable wins, all with vote shares above 67 percent, especially Ang Mo Kio, which delivered a resounding 78.95 percent under the steady command of former Prime Minister and current Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Finally, in three constituencies, PAP candidates secured over 80 percent of the vote, a threshold not crossed in the 2015 or 2020 elections.

Experience vs representation 

The Punggol battle reflected one of the election's central questions: whether to double down on stability and experience, or shift toward a more pluralistic parliament with stronger checks.

Challenges are undeniably present. Rising living costs remain the primary concern for voters, with inflation and price hikes hitting hard in recent years, issues that both the ruling and opposition parties have acknowledged.

Much of this is driven by external factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Many voters feel that, while the PAP's handling hasn't been flawless, the opposition has yet to offer genuinely viable solutions.

The turbulence triggered by sweeping US tariffs has only compounded this uncertainty. According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the United States is Singapore's second-largest market, with products subject to the baseline tariff accounting for around 55 percent of Singapore's exports to the United States.

Wong and Lee have repeatedly warned that US protectionism threatens global trade norms, with serious implications for trade-dependent Singapore. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has already lowered its 2025 growth forecast in response.

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Peter Ong, associate editor of local newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, noted that the overarching issue in this election was whether the PAP should be granted a strong mandate to confront global turbulence, from trade wars to shifting geopolitics, or Singapore should move toward a more diverse parliament with enhanced checks and balances. In Ong's view, while the former narrative did not dominate, it certainly took the lead.

"During the campaign at rallies and online, it might have seemed like the second view was gaining ground," he said during a livestream on Saturday night. "But there's a large silent majority whose voices were not heard. It was probably this group that made the PAP's safe seats even safer and helped them get through in the more contested areas as well."