Next Singaporean general election

General elections are due to be held in Singapore no later than 23 November 2025 to determine the composition of the fifteenth Parliament. The elections will be the nineteenth in Singapore since 1948 and the fourteenth since independence.

Next Singaporean general election
Singapore
By 23 November 2025
All 93 elected seats in Parliament and up to 12 NCMPs
47 seats needed for a majority
PartyLeader Current seats
PAP Lee Hsien Loong 79
WP Pritam Singh 8
PSP Leong Mun Wai 2
Vacant – 6
Incumbent Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong
PAP

Background
Constituencies of Singapore as of the last election, which are often subject to adjustments prior to the next election.
This article is part of a series on
Politics of Singapore
Government
Legislature
Executive
Judiciary
Elections
flag Singapore portal

According to Article 65 of the Constitution, the maximum term of Parliament is five years from the date of its first sitting following a general election, after which it is dissolved. However, the President can dissolve Parliament at any time during the aforesaid five-year period, if advised by the Prime Minister to do so, and if the President is satisfied that, in tendering that advice, the Prime Minister commands the confidence of a majority of the Members of Parliament (MPs).[1] A general election must be held within three months after every dissolution of Parliament.[2]

Electoral Divisions (also referred to as seats in Parliament) are organised into Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) and Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs). Each SMC returns one MP using the first past the post voting system, while each GRC returns four or five MPs by party block voting, at least one of whom must be from the Malay, Indian or other minority communities. A group of candidates intending to contest an election in a GRC must all be members of the same political party, or a group of independent candidates. The voting age in Singapore is 21 years. Elections are conducted by the Elections Department (ELD), a department under the Prime Minister's Office.[3]

The People's Action Party won a majority of seats in the 2020 general election in its toughest contest since independence, winning all but three electoral divisions. It retained West Coast GRC in a fight against the Progress Singapore Party, though with the narrowest margin of victory among all electoral divisions;[4] the top scoring GRC was the neighbouring Jurong GRC won by the party.[5] The Workers' Party won the new Sengkang GRC and retained Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC. Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Ng Chee Meng, who had led the Sengkang PAP team, was considered the highest profile political casualty of the election.[6]

Affiliation Members
Elected Current Change
PAP 83 79 Decrease 4
WP 10 8 Decrease 2
Vacant 0 6 Increase 6
Government majority 73 71 Decrease 2

Only elected MPs within their constituencies are included. NCMPs and Nominated MPs are not included.

Political developments

People's Action Party

The governing People's Action Party (PAP) appointed Heng Swee Keat as First Assistant Secretary-General, and next in line to succeed Lee Hsien Loong as Prime Minister during their Central Executive Committee (CEC) election, subject to the party winning a majority of seats in the next general election.[7] Four new members, including three serving ministers and Ng Chee Meng, were also co-opted into the CEC.[8]

Heng subsequently withdrew from and ruled himself out as the potential fourth prime minister in April 2021, citing age and health concerns, though analysts also attributed the withdrawal to Heng's worse-than-expected result in East Coast GRC during the previous general election.[9][10]

On 14 April 2022, Lawrence Wong was endorsed by an overwhelming majority of PAP MPs as the leader of the fourth generation (4G) of PAP leadership, placing him in line to succeed Lee as Prime Minister if the party wins a majority of seats in the next general election.[11] On 13 June 2022, Lawrence Wong was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Prime Minister in the PM's absence. This move further cemented his standing as the successor to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Three MPs were vacated in July 2023. Tharman Shanmugaratnam resigned on 7 July 2023 from all his positions in the government and as a member of the PAP to run for the 2023 Singaporean presidential election,[12] in which he would later go on to win.[13]

Ten days later on 17 July, both Cheng Li Hui and then-Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin simultaneously resigned from all their positions in the government and as members of the PAP due to "propriety and personal conduct", alluding to adultery.[14] Lee, in response to their resignation letters, said in a statement that their resignations were "necessary" to "to maintain the high standards of propriety and personal conduct which the PAP has upheld all these years."[15][16]

The Speaker has since been succeeded by Seah Kian Peng, another MP from Tan's constituency of Marine Parade GRC, on 2 August.

All of these resignations left their respective seats (Taman Jurong, Tampines East and Kembangan-Chai Chee) vacant, and its respective workloads for the affected divisions distributed among the other MPs in their respective GRCs.

On 12 July 2023, S. Iswaran was summoned to assist in an unspecified corruption investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Upon being briefed on the investigation by the CPIB, Prime Minister Lee instructed Iswaran to go on a leave of absence with immediate effect until investigations ended; Chee Hong Tat was appointed as the Acting Transport Minister, while he was still a MP, his duties are suspended while the workload for the West Coast division are distributed among the other MPs in West Coast GRC.[17] On 15 July it was revealed that Iswaran had been arrested pursuant to the investigation and released on bail on 11 July.[18] The investigation had also expanded to include Ong Beng Seng, who was arrested at the same time.[19][20][21]

Workers' Party

The Workers' Party (WP) elected the four MPs in Sengkang GRC into the WP's Central Executive Committee (CEC), where they were appointed to deputy roles within the party.[22] Party leaders Pritam Singh and Sylvia Lim were re-elected unopposed.[23]

On 30 November 2021, Sengkang GRC's MP Raeesah Khan resigned from the party and vacated her seat in Parliament after admitting to making unsubstantiated allegations in Parliament on three occasions. [24][25][26]

The Party also expelled a former CEC and NCMP Daniel Goh in June 2023 over its Facebook posts questioning about Khan's resignation and requested the party leadership for "allowing the transgression to persist".[27][28]

On 19 July 2023, Leon Perera and its fellow member Nicole Seah both resigned from the party after a viral video surfaced an extramarital affair between Perera and Seah. Both of the resignations left its Compassvale and Serangoon divisions, respectively, to be vacant and were distributed among the other MPs in their respective GRCs.[29]

Progress Singapore Party

Progress Singapore Party Assistant Secretary-General Leong Mun Wai and Vice-Chairwoman Hazel Poa resigned from their roles to focus on their NCMP duties.[30] A policy research team, youth, and women wings were established as part of the reorganisation of the party.[31]

On 3 April, Francis Yuen was appointed as Secretary-General and succeeding party founder Tan Cheng Bock, who became Chairman.[32] Rumours of a rift within the party that Tan had been pressured by party cadres to step down in order to make way for a younger candidate were denied, with Tan expressing his intention to contest in the next election.[33]; however, Yuen stepped down from the post on 26 March 2023 due to focusing on his work commitments as executive chairman of an overseas publicly listed company,[34] and NCMP Leong succeeded this post on 4 April.[35]

Reform Party

Reform Party Secretary-General Kenneth Jeyaretnam removed Chairman Andy Zhu from his position of the RP's Central Executive Committee (CEC), and replaced him with Charles Yeo, alongside treasurer Noraini Yunus. The party accused Zhu and his associates, for improper procedures in the handling of the party's bank account.[36] Zhu subsequently formed its splinter party, Singapore United Party, with several former members of RP.[37] Osman Suliaman was among the members who resigned, but joined the Singapore People's Party instead.[38]

Yeo relinquished his position on 15 January 2022 over arrests relating to alleged offences of criminal breach of trust and forgery in the course of his works.[39]

Singapore Democratic Party

The party had made preparations ahead of the election, and began their walkabout and campaigning around August 2023.[40] They also have announced on contesting Sembawang GRC for the first time since the 2011 election.[41][42]

Ahead of the announcement, former Bukit Gombak SMC MP and chairman Ling How Doong died of pneumonia on 30 April 2021.[43]

People's Alliance

In June 2023, Peoples Voice's chief Lim Tean formed People's Alliance, a coalition which consists of Peoples Voice, Reform Party, People’s Power Party and Democratic Progressive Party.[44]

References
  1. "Article 65 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore". Attorney-General's Chambers.
  2. "Singapore Elections Department – Parliamentary Elections". eld.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 5 March 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  3. "Singapore Elections Department – About Us". eld.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  4. S, Thyaga Rajan; Lim, Min Zhang; Koh, Fabian (2 September 2020). "GE2020 official results: PAP retains West Coast GRC with 51.69% of votes against Tan Cheng Bock's PSP". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  5. Baharudin, Hariz; Davie, Sandra (11 July 2020). "GE2020 official results: Tharman leads PAP to thumping win in Jurong GRC with 75 % of votes against RDU". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  6. Toh, Wen Li; Lim, Yan Liang (1 September 2020). "GE2020 official results: WP wins Sengkang GRC with 52.13% of votes, clinching its second GRC". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  7. Yuen, Sin; Lim, Min Zhang (9 November 2020). "PAP conference: Lawrence Wong, Desmond Lee elected to party's top committee for first time". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  8. Ong, Justin (20 November 2020). "PAP co-opts four new members into its top decision-making body, including Ng Chee Meng". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  9. Tan, Sumiko (8 April 2021). "DPM Heng Swee Keat steps aside as leader of 4G team, setting back Singapore's succession plan for next PM". The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  10. Tham, Yuen-C (9 April 2021). "Heng Swee Keat's decision catches many by surprise; Pritam Singh pledges to work with next 4G leader". The Straits Times. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  11. "Finance Minister Lawrence Wong endorsed as leader of 4G team: PM Lee". CNA. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  12. "Tharman Shanmugaratnam to run for President in Singapore, will resign from PAP". CNA. 8 June 2023.
  13. Oh, Tessa (2 September 2023). "Tharman Shanmugaratnam elected as Singapore's 9th president in 70.4% landslide". Business Times. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  14. "Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin, MP Cheng Li Hui resign over 'propriety and personal conduct'". CNA. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  15. "PMO | Statement by PM Lee Hsien Loong on Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin's resignation". Prime Minister's Office Singapore. 17 July 2023. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  16. "PMO | Statement by PM Lee Hsien Loong on MP Cheng Li Hui's resignation". Prime Minister's Office Singapore. 17 July 2023. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  17. "Transport Minister S Iswaran assisting in CPIB investigation, instructed to take leave of absence by PM Lee". Channel News Asia. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  18. "Singapore arrests cabinet minister in top-level corruption probe". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 15 July 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  19. Rebane, Michelle Toh,Juliana Liu,Teele (14 July 2023). "Rare Singapore corruption probe widens to include Grand Prix owner | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved 17 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. "Singapore's Widening Corruption Probe: What You Need to Know". Bloomberg.com. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  21. "Ong Beng Seng's 'buddy-buddy' ties with Singapore minister in spotlight amid probe". South China Morning Post. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  22. Rei, Kurohi (6 January 2021). "Workers' Party appoints new office bearers after Jan 5 CEC meeting". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  23. Tham, Yuen-C; Rei, Kurohi (28 December 2020). "WP returns leaders to posts, elects Sengkang MPs to CEC". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  24. "Raeesah Khan resigns from WP, steps down as Sengkang MP (FULL STATEMENT)". Yahoo Singapore. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  25. Baharudin, Hariz (30 November 2021). "Sengkang MP Raeesah Khan resigns from WP following probe over admission of lying in Parliament". The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  26. "Raeesah Khan resigns from The Workers' Party and as MP after admitting to lying in Parliament". CNA. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  27. Iau, Jean (4 September 2022). "WP disciplinary panel to look into Daniel Goh's Facebook posts on Raeesah Khan". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  28. Iau, Jean (1 June 2023). "Former WP NCMP Daniel Goh expelled from party, says his retirement from politics 'is complete'". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  29. "WP's Leon Perera and Nicole Seah resign over affair: Watch live media conference". The Straits Times. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  30. Koh, Fabian (20 July 2020). "PSP's Leong Mun Wai and Hazel Poa step down from party positions to focus on NCMP duties". The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  31. "Progress Singapore Party restructures, with new youth, women's wings, and second-in-command". TODAY. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  32. Yuen, Sin (1 April 2021). "Francis Yuen is new PSP chief, taking over from founder Tan Cheng Bock". The Straits Times. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  33. Tan, Ashley. "PSP's Tan Cheng Bock not retiring but 'repositioning', will run for next General Election". Mothership. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  34. "Progress Singapore Party chief Francis Yuen steps down in leadership shake-up". CNA. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  35. "Progress Singapore Party appoints Leong Mun Wai as new secretary-general". CNA. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  36. "Reform Party names Charles Yeo as acting chairman in leadership reshuffle". TODAY. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  37. Yuen, Sin (5 January 2021). "Former Reform Party chairman Andy Zhu and others form new political party, Singapore United Party". Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  38. Romero, Anna Maria (18 January 2021). "SPP accepts chairman's resignation, will remain in Potong Pasir for next polls".
  39. "Charles Yeo steps aside as Reform Party chairman, gives more details about how he was arrested". mothership.sg. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  40. Abdullah, Zhaki (9 August 2023). "SDP conducts walkabouts on National Day, preparing for next GE". The Straits Times. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  41. Correspondent, Goh Yan HanPolitical (13 August 2022). "Elections an open fight, says Ong Ye Kung in response to SDP's plans to contest Sembawang GRC". The Straits Times. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  42. "SDP sets sights on Sembawang for next general election". CNA. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  43. "Former SDP chairman Ling How Doong, who was Bukit Gombak MP, dies at age 85". Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  44. "4 opposition parties form alliance to contest in Singapore's next General Election". 1 June 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.