Singaporeans will vote on May 3 in a make-or-break election that represents the first significant test of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s leadership, as the city-state weathers a precarious world economy rattled by fresh U.S. tariffs.
This is the first such election under Wong, 52, who succeeded Lee Hsien Loong the founder’s son last year. Parliament was dissolved on Tuesday, paving the way for a high-stakes election.
Though the long-drawn People’s Action Party (PAP) is almost certain to continue in power, opposition parties are making headway, with many seeing the election as a test of confidence in the government.
Singapore’s commerce-based economy is bracing for the pressure of a derailed global trading system. The US tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump have made supply chains more complex and triggered apprehension over an intensifying trade war. The nation’s trade ministry has already lowered its 2025 growth projection to between 0% and 2%.
In parliament last week, PM Wong cautioned that the “era of rules-based globalisation and free trade is over,” emphasizing the necessity for a robust mandate to introduce economic safeguards and steer intricate foreign relations.
The PAP, who have been in power since 1959, are being squeezed from all sides by an increasingly politicized electorate, especially young voters. The Workers’ Party (WP), who won 10 seats out of 93 in 2020, is looking to increase its clout this time, with support from popular candidates such as Harvard-educated lawyer Harpreet Singh.
With 97 seats to be contested, analysts contend the election could bring into parliament a more solid opposition presence. But divided opposition attempts might water down the effect.
The outcome will show how Singaporeans weigh the need for political diversity against fears of economic stability in an unstable global environment.
