By Bobbie Ysabelle Matias
Singaporeans are preparing to hit the polls on May 3 for the city-state’s first general election since 2020.
The election comes amid a plethora of global uncertainties, with the country’s foremost concern being United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
While Singapore – a country heavily reliant on global trade – was not given a specific levy, unlike its other Southeast Asian neighbours, it is still affected by Trump’s 10 percent minimum baseline tariff.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong admitted that Trump’s trade war is among Singapore’s biggest challenges to date.
When the Singapore Parliament was dissolved on April 15 to pave the way for the general polls, Wong said he was calling the election at a “critical juncture” when the world is becoming more uncertain and unsettled.
He also emphasised the high stakes of the upcoming election, with the current challenges being more severe compared to the last time Singaporeans went to the polls.
Leadership renewal
The May 3 election signals a leadership renewal for the People’s Action Party (PAP), which has ruled the city-state since 1959, while also serving as a test for Wong as the head of PAP’s fourth-generation team.
The party has already witnessed several retirements within its slate after the election was announced, with Cabinet ministers Ng Eng Hen and Maliki Osman among those who declared their exit after decades in politics.
PAP’s new election manifesto, titled ‘Changed World, Fresh Team, New Resolve – Securing a Brighter Future for You’, promises to address common issues plaguing Singaporeans. These include the cost of living and the affordability of public housing.
However, PAP also vowed to renew its social compact and provide opportunities for success for Singaporeans from all walks of life.
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“I am determined to keep this miracle called Singapore going,” Wong said in PAP’s campaign video released on April 17.
“I will not gamble with your future. I will build on the foundations laid by those before me, so that we can stay ahead.”
Even though PAP has remained undefeated as the city-state’s ruling party, the opposition parties have no plans of backing down.
Opposition party plans
Similar to PAP, main opposition Workers’ Party (WP) also prioritised renewal for this year’s hustings, with secretary-general Pritam Singh saying that the party needs “people who are better than us” for it to grow.
Other opposition teams contesting the 2025 General Election include Progress Singapore Party, coalition People’s Alliance for Reform, Red Dot United, Singapore Democratic Party, People’s Power Party, National Solidarity Party, Singapore People’s Party, Singapore United Party and Singapore Democratic Alliance.
There are also two independent candidates each vying for the single member constituencies (SMCs) of Mountbatten and Radin Mas.
PAP already won in one of the constituencies after a surprise walkover on April 23, Nomination Day.
2,758,846 voters
Singapore citizens aged 21 and above, and are on the Registers of Electors are the ones eligible to vote on Polling Day, May 3.
There are currently 2,758,846 registered voters in the city-state, according to The Straits Times, up from 2,651,435 in 2020.
Apart from Marine Parade-Braddell Heights Group Representation Constituency (GRC), which PAP claimed on April 23, all constituencies in the city-state will be contested on election day.
There are 15 SMCs and 18 GRCs in the island-nation.
The 15th Parliament of Singapore is expected to have 97 elected lawmakers, four more compared to the current House.
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