Singapore election: why lots of parties will make little difference

Ten possible challengers may seem like a genuine threat to the ruling People’s Action Party, but it is a sign of a lack of a coherent and centralised strategy

When calls to topple the PAP get too loud, Singaporean voters tend to retreat into the safety of the ruling party’s embrace

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Workers’ Party supporters wave flags as they celebrate at Hougang stadium after the 2015 Singapore general election. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:30am, 7 Jul 2019Updated: 2:54pm, 24 Jun 2020

When veteran politician Tan Cheng Bock formally launches his new party in the coming weeks or months, he will be joining the most crowded, colourful and confused opposition scene in independent Singapore’s history.

The former stalwart of the People’s Action Party (PAP) has styled himself as an opposition elder statesman of sorts, keen to gather allies to his Progress Singapore Party (PSP). But his efforts are likely to be stymied by the record number of parties looking to take on the incumbent government.

Against the enduring backdrop of a dominant PAP, which has governed the island nation since 1959, the Singapore opposition scene has seen a small band of players nibbling at the edges of power for decades.

There are usually between four and six opposition parties contesting the general election. In 2006, it hit an all-time low of three.

But the PSP will be the 10th active opposition party in Singapore. Should they all contest the next general election, it will break the current record of eight, set in 1984 and equalled in the 2015 polls.

Joining Tan’s outfit is another new party, People’s Voice Party, which was formed last year. People’s Voice’s chief Lim Tean in a June 26 Facebook post said his party would contest in “many constituencies across our nation” in the coming general election.

Singapore must go to the polls by April 2021, although most believe an election will be held earlier.

Singapore election: why lots of parties will make little difference

Ten possible challengers may seem like a genuine threat to the ruling People’s Action Party, but it is a sign of a lack of a coherent and centralised strategy When calls to topple the PAP get too loud, Singaporean voters tend to retreat into the safety of the ruling party’s embrace

Ten possible challengers may seem like a genuine threat to the ruling People’s Action Party, but it is a sign of a lack of a coherent and centralised strategy

When calls to topple the PAP get too loud, Singaporean voters tend to retreat into the safety of the ruling party’s embrace