Singapore entered its May 3, 2025 general election with the governing People's Action Party seeking a renewed mandate under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, while opposition parties campaigned on issues including the cost of living, housing affordability and the need for stronger checks and balances in Parliament.
The election was the first led by Wong after he succeeded Lee Hsien Loong as prime minister in May 2024. It also took place amid uncertainty over global trade and intensifying strategic competition between the United States and China, both important economic partners for Singapore.
A First General Election Under Lawrence Wong
The PAP has governed Singapore continuously since 1959. In the 2020 general election, it won 61.24% of the national vote while the opposition Workers' Party secured a record 10 elected parliamentary seats.
That result meant the 2025 campaign was closely watched not simply for control of government, but for whether the opposition could expand its parliamentary representation and whether the PAP's national vote share would rise or fall under its new leader.
Wong had been sworn in as Singapore's fourth prime minister on May 15, 2024, ending Lee Hsien Loong's roughly two decades in the office. During the campaign, the PAP emphasized continuity, economic management and Singapore's ability to navigate a more uncertain international environment.
The Workers' Party, led by Pritam Singh, presented a different argument: that a larger opposition presence could provide additional scrutiny and alternative views in Parliament. The party did not field enough candidates to contest a majority of the 97 elected seats, so it was not seeking to form the government.
Cost of Living and Housing Shaped the Campaign
Domestic economic pressures were among the campaign's central issues. Singapore remained one of the world's wealthiest economies on a per-capita basis, but voters were also dealing with concerns about everyday expenses and housing affordability.
The government had expanded several forms of social support in the years following the 2020 election, while opposition parties argued that more needed to be done to address household costs. Debate also continued over increases in the Goods and Services Tax, which rose from 7% to 8% in 2023 and then to 9% in 2024.
Electoral rules and constituency boundaries were another point of political dispute. Opposition parties have long criticized aspects of Singapore's electoral system, including the redrawing of constituency boundaries and the short official campaign period. The government has rejected suggestions that electoral boundaries are drawn for partisan advantage, and Singapore's Electoral Boundaries Review Committee operates under the Prime Minister's Office.
Pritam Singh's Conviction and the Opposition Campaign
The campaign also followed Workers' Party leader Pritam Singh's February 2025 conviction on two charges of lying to a parliamentary committee. The case arose from his testimony concerning former Workers' Party lawmaker Raeesah Khan, who had admitted making a false statement in Parliament.
Singh remained party leader during the election campaign. His legal case did not prevent him from standing in the election, and voters in Aljunied Group Representation Constituency ultimately returned the Workers' Party team that included him.
What the Election Ultimately Produced
Later results provided a clear measure of how voters responded. According to Singapore's Elections Department, the PAP retained government and won 87 of the 97 elected parliamentary seats.
The party received 65.57% of valid votes nationwide, an increase from its 61.24% share in 2020. The Workers' Party retained all 10 of its elected seats, holding Aljunied and Sengkang group constituencies as well as Hougang single-member constituency, but it did not add another elected constituency.
Some opposition contests nevertheless remained competitive. In Jalan Kayu, for example, PAP candidate Ng Chee Meng defeated Workers' Party candidate Andre Low with 51.47% of the vote to Low's 48.53%. In Aljunied, the Workers' Party won 59.71%, while in Sengkang it secured 56.32%.
The result therefore answered one of the main questions surrounding the campaign: rather than experiencing another decline in national vote share, the PAP increased its support in Wong's first general election as party leader while the Workers' Party maintained, but did not expand, its elected representation.
Continuity With an Established Opposition Presence
The 2025 election did not alter Singapore's governing party, but it took place during a significant leadership transition. Wong secured his first electoral mandate as prime minister, while the Workers' Party preserved the 10 elected seats it had won in 2020.
Singapore's Parliament also provides for Non-Constituency Members of Parliament when fewer than 12 opposition candidates are elected. Under the system described by the Elections Department, seats can be offered to the highest-performing unelected opposition candidates to bring opposition representation up to the prescribed number.
The election consequently reinforced two features of contemporary Singaporean politics: the PAP's continuing parliamentary dominance and an established opposition presence centered on the Workers' Party. Questions about living costs, housing, political competition and Singapore's response to a less predictable global economy remained part of the country's political debate after the ballots were counted.
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