Singapore's ruling party retains power with decisive election win

The PAP, which has ruled since before Singapore's 1965 independence, secured 87 of 97 parliamentary seats up for grabs, while the main opposition Workers' Party (WP) won 10 seats, according to The Strait Times.

The ruling party secured 65.57% of the vote, a commanding swing from a 61.24% share in the last general election.

"Now that the election is over, we must put aside our differences and stand together as one Team Singapore to confront the storms ahead, and to secure a brighter future for ourselves, our families and Singapore,” Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at a news conference after the results were released.

The elections Saturday were the first electoral test for Wong who replaced Lee Hsien Loong, the founder of modern Singapore, in a carefully calibrated power transfer last May.

A total of 211 candidates from 11 political parties took part in the elections.

A total of 2,429,281 votes were cast, including 42,829 that were rejected votes, making up 92.47% of the 2,627,026 registered voters in all contested electoral divisions.

Except for the WP, all other opposition parties failed to win any constituencies or send any candidates to parliament.

Wong said the clear and strong mandate that Singaporeans have given the PAP was deeply humbling, and called the results “a clear signal of trust, stability and confidence” by Singaporeans in the government.

“I will announce the Cabinet line-up when ready,” he said as his new government will have to face a myriad of challenges, ranging from an escalating cost-of-living crisis to a shortage of housing and a now-paused sweeping reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US President Donald Trump.