By Jun Yuan Yong and Bing Hong Lok
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore on Wednesday finalised contestants for its May 3 general election, with the ruling People’s Action Party fielding 32 new candidates in the biggest-ever refresh of the party that has ruled the city-state since independence in 1965.
The move follows a pledge by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office last year and assumed the PAP leadership, to “bring in new blood, new ideas and new energy” to steer the country of 6 million people.
His latest shakeup beats that of predecessors Lee Hsien Loong and Goh Chok Tong, who replaced 24 and 11 politicians respectively in their first elections as premier.
The ballot is the first big test for 52-year-old Wong and his party’s share of the popular vote will be closely watched after one of its worst performances in the 2020 contest.
The election also comes as Singapore faces uncertainty in its trade-reliant economy and the possibility of recession and job losses caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, even though the wealthy city-state will be subject to only a 10% levy, compared to much steeper tariffs imposed on its neighbours.
Last week, Singapore downgraded its growth forecast for this year to 0% to 2% from the previous 1% to 3% range.
OLD GUARD EXIT
The ruling PAP will be boosted by a walkover in a contest with five seats, with opposition parties fielding candidates for only 92 of the 97 available parliamentary spots in a surprise pull-out by the Workers’ Party in one constituency.
In a departure from previous elections, the PAP and its main opposition played their cards close to their chests, revealing candidates in key races only late on, among them trade minister and deputy premier Gan Kim Yong, who changed constituency at the 11th hour.
PAP politicians who stepped down include old guard heavyweights Ng Eng Hen, Singapore’s longest-serving defence minister and senior minister Teo Chee Hean, a deputy prime minister under Lee, who was in power two decades. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who was once tipped for the premiership, also made way.
The Workers’ Party, which has a long-term goal of winning a third of seats, is fielding just 26 candidates. Though it alone poses no significant threat to the PAP’s rule, it has steadily gained ground in the past few elections, with an unprecedented six seats in 2011 and 2015, and 10 in 2020.
Chief among election issues for the 2.76 million registered voters will be living costs and the fallout of trade tensions.
In February, Wong delivered what analysts called “a full-blown election budget” with a raft of giveaways, including food vouchers, tax rebates and cash handouts.
In a swipe at his opponents on Tuesday, Wong warned Singaporeans they will hear “many tempting proposals” ahead of the election that might not be sound.
“If they weaken our public finances, the burden will fall on our children. If we mismanage the economy, investors will lose confidence and our incomes will suffer,” he said in a social media post.
(Reporting by Jun Yuan Yong and Bing Hong Lok; Writing by Xinghui Kok; Editing by Martin Petty)
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