As Singapore votes, PAP banks on its 66-year legacy

Singapore’s dominant People’s Action Party is widely expected to sweep eight or nine out of every 10 seats in the May 3 general election as it typically does, making it one of the world’s longest-reigning ruling parties in a democracy.

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The PAP has run Singapore since 1959, before independence, overseeing a transformation of the city-state into a financial hub of six million people with foreign investment, good governance and public services that have made it the envy of its Southeast Asian neighbours.

The PAP’s longevity relies on continuity and stability, with voters consistently sticking with the party they know and ignoring under-funded opposition parties that remain an unknown quantity to many. “Opposition parties claimed that the playing field is somewhat uneven because they typically face a resource gap, less media exposure, and do not have strong grassroots support,” said former PAP lawmaker Zainal Sapari.

“The main handicap is the voters’ psychology as many are still cautious about voting for the opposition because they associate the PAP with security and success. It takes time to shift those perceptions.” The expectation that the PAP will retain power, despite a growing unhappiness with its governance, contrasts with how incumbents in many democracies have fallen out of favour since the COVID pandemic, which was followed by a sharp jump in inflation and the cost of living.