Singapore's ruling PAP cedes ground to opposition in pandemic poll

The PAP’s two-thirds majority affords them a free hand to pass legislation and amend the constitution, but its leaders will also be under pressure to address the slip in support.

When concerns around immigration and jobs flared in 2011, the PAP polled a record low 60% of the vote and tightened international hiring rules to address voters’ sensitivities.

Those concerns have come to the fore again as the country emerges from lockdown to face its deepest recession.

Lee, the son of Singapore’s founding leader, Lee Kuan Yew, called the election to seek a fresh mandate to guide the country through a health crisis that has crushed the small but open economy.

Singapore is not the first country to hold elections during the pandemic - South Korea and Serbia have also held polls - but opposition parties had pushed back on the plan saying it endangered voters and hindered their campaigning.

“They think that they’ve done well dealing with the pandemic,” said Muhammad, a 33-year-old construction safety manager amongst ebullient Workers’ Party supporters. “They haven’t,” he said.

Singapore has one of the lowest COVID-19 fatality rates in the world and initially earned widespread praise for its efforts. But subsequent outbreaks in cramped migrant worker dormitories stained that early success, and persuaded the government to keep schools and businesses closed for longer.

Lee, 68, who has held the premiership since 2004, retained his seat easily. He had previously flagged his intention to step aside in coming years, but said on Saturday he would stay on to see through the COVID-19 crisis.

Meanwhile, his deputy and earmarked successor, Heng Swee Keat, won his seat with a slim 53% of the vote in what analysts said was a key test of his public support.