Any doubts about the ability of the Popular Labor Party to continue to control the policy of Singapore after six decades, which was put in place with the election result on Saturday.
Under the leadership of Lawrence Wong in his first elections as head of ingenuity, PAP 87 has occupied 97 seats in Parliament, with the ten opposition he won during the 2020 vote. The opposition sought to extend these previous gains, but the mood changed as it became clear early that the voters flocked to safety amid the threat of global economic turmoil.
The results are support for the Wongs strategy to deepen social aid in an attempt to alleviate the high cost of living. They also repeat the election results last week In Australia Canada, where voters supported the current parties, where US President Donald Trump’s policies are world trade.
The 52 -year -old economist and his team warned that calling for more opposition to the government could create instability at the wrong time for trade -dependent Singapore.
“Lawrence Wong will go like a Chechere cat,” said Eugene Tan, a professor of co -law at the University of Singapore,. “He could not order a better result. This would allow riding on the next decade.”
The Strits Times did not change on Monday, while the Singapore dollar rose up against Greenback.
Besides the parliamentary seats, the Wong party was much better through popular vote, with about 66 % of the polling cards, or approximately 5 degrees Celsius than in 2020.
This situation gives all the support he needs to complete a series of new political leaders in his government without a sensation of the opposition. The result also indicates the continuity of foreign companies that helped make Singapore a global financial position.
“A clear signal”
Not everyone was bad for the opposition. Labor Party supporters took some comfort in knowing that they were able to stick to the ten seats they won in 2020, while strengthening its share of popular vote to about 15 %. This enhances WP claim as the primary voice of the opposition, and perhaps more effective in the future.
However, Saturday’s elections indicate the renewal of general confidence in a political party that has been responsible since independence in 1965. Wong is the fourth prime minister in the city, and he is the second not only from the founder of Singapore Lee Kwan U-son Lee Hsin Long, the first job from 2004-2024.
In the early hours of Sunday, Wong pledged to prepare efforts to address the costs facing Singaporean. He also covered the need to create more jobs and support support for health care, retirement, education and families.
He said early Sunday morning: “It is a clear indication of confidence, stability and confidence in your government.” “We will do our best to serve you and improve your life.”
Although the victory was never in doubt, the margin of victory in Singapore can have a significant impact on public policy.
In 2020, PAP won 89 % of the seats – its worst offer since independence, partly due to a violent reaction by younger voters. The party has sought to attract them since then through, among other things, to reduce access to public housing and cancel a long -term law prohibiting sex between men. half32 new candidatesPAP was floating in these elections less than 40.
The transition to Wong represents an additional shift in the PAP approach to processing the growing costs between some 3.6 million Singaporeon. This included unemployment subsidies for the first time and billions of dollars in successive budgets to help pay the costs of everything from meals to facilities and support education.
Trade war
Wong can now focus on facing the economic opposite winds that threaten to raise the economy that depends on the city’s trade. Last month, the government reviewed the 2025 economic growth expectations to 0-2 % from 1 % to 3 %, and the Prime Minister warned that the recession could not be excluded.
The strong result also provides sighs for companies, which is likely to face higher taxes and restrictions on employing foreign workers if the opposition excels.
“For companies, this means more clarity and continuity in economic policy, including support for digital transformation, sustainability targets, and workforce policies,” said NYDIA NGIOW, Managing Director of Consultance Bowergroupasia.
She said that companies “will find a more predictable organizational environment in the short term, which would help in investment planning and operational stability against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions.”
At the same time, the Wong government will go to any trade negotiations with the United States more confident, with the election of the main ministers to its post. Wong sought to persuade voters on the campaign’s path that Singapore would be in a stronger position to do this if he was re -elected.
Potran Dot, a professor of economics and political science in Inside in Singapore, said that the largest wind that he is chasing about PAP “was” the increasing global uncertainty that the trade war launched by President Trump. ” “Voters will not take gambling in the form of a protest vote.”
As for the opposition, the result means that the efforts made to achieve more balance and discussion to Parliament will have to wait. When the doctrine came on Saturday evening, the opposition candidates were desperate.
“We have shocked the results,” said Lyong Moon Way, an opposition candidate from the Singapore Progress Party. “We may need to review our strategy and re -assemble ourselves to fight on another day.”
However, there was some consolation for them in the ability of the Labor Party to adhere to it in Parliament.
“Unlike other parties, the Labor Party was successful in maintaining competition this time and now stands as a real opposition power in Singapore,” according to BlackBox Research.
This story was originally shown on Fortune.com
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