Why Singapore's election matters, even if it's predictable
Singapore's general election Friday was widely expected to keep its leading political party in power. So why did more than 2 million voters still come out?
People's Action Party (PAP) supporters cheer as they wait for polling results at a stadium in Singapore on Friday. Singapore's ruling (PAP) looked to be making a strong showing in an election, according to samples of votes taken in more than two dozen constituencies and released by the Elections Department.
(Edgar Su/Reuters)
Singaporeans headed to the polls Friday to vote in a general election that was already largely decided.
of 100 ballots showed that the People鈥檚 Action Party was set for reelection, continuing its control as Singapore鈥檚 leading political party since the country鈥檚 independence in 1965. Out of 89 parliament seats, the count indicated the PAP would be taking 83, according to the Elections Department.
Yet more than 2.1 million Singaporeans had cast their votes at 830 polling stations by early Friday evening, the country鈥檚 elections department .
Voter turnout was almost unprecedented, with for the first time since independence, according to Bloomberg.
Why was this election still so important?
This season marked the since Singapore鈥檚 first premier Lee Kuan Yew founded the party more than 50 years ago, reports The Wall Street Journal.
For the first time, the PAP faced a , and some say this election marked a fair chance for Singaporeans to assess the government.聽
鈥淢any political analysts agree that the party鈥檚 hold on power is softening as economic growth slows 鈥 the economy grew 1.8 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, the weakest level in nearly three years 鈥 and opposition groups gain clout,鈥 reports . 鈥淭he government has downgraded its growth forecast to 2 percent to 2.5 percent this year, from an earlier prediction of 2 percent to 4 percent.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 been exciting as there is better quality opposition, which means better rallies and debates,鈥 Alvin Foo, a 26-year-old logistics operation worker, at a PAP gathering at Toa Payoh stadium. 鈥淚 just started work so I鈥檓 very concerned about the cost of living. I want a stable government, smart people to lead with a proven track record.鈥
Mr. Foo wasn鈥檛 alone in his convictions. 鈥淓lection results have been subtly changing over the past few decades, showing the PAP鈥檚 gradual decline in popularity,鈥 wrote . 鈥淭he party 鈥 once synonymous with the Singapore economic miracle and miracle-worker-in-chief Lee Kuan Yew 鈥 is likely to continue to struggle amid gripes over issues as widespread as immigration (paywall) and pensions.鈥
While the opposition was able to reach new levels of visibility and credibility, the Elections Department has now called the election, with PAP in the lead. The party, led today by Lee Kuan Yew鈥檚 son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, won a majority of parliament seats, albeit far fewer than projections had suggested.
Based on votes counted so far, the Elections Department said the PAP has won , reported Bloomberg. The Workers鈥 Party 鈥 also widely seen as 鈥渢he nation鈥檚 most successful opposition party鈥 鈥 captured one seat.
Among the eight opposition parties contesting the election, in the previous parliament, winning six seats in 2011 and one more in a by-election in 2013, according to the Journal.
As results were announced showing that his party had won his own district, Prime Minister Lee was lifted on the shoulders of supporters and carried around the stadium to a chanting crowd. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very grateful, very happy but at the same time humbled by the results,鈥 he . 鈥淲e look forward to working with you closely. SG-100 will be better than SG-50.鈥