Singapore Dissolves Parliament Ahead of Key Election Test for PM Lawrence Wong

Singapore: Singapore’s Parliament has been dissolved ahead of a high-stakes general election, seen as a defining moment for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took over last year from Lee Hsien Loong, son of the city-state’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew.

The dissolution, announced via official gazette on Tuesday, April 15, came upon Wong’s advice to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

• Nomination Day has been set for April 23.

• The election date is expected to be announced shortly by the Elections Department.

This will be the first major electoral test for PM Wong and marks the beginning of a new era following decades of leadership by the influential Lee family under the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), which has held power since 1959.

Key Highlights:

• The next Parliament will have 97 seats, four more than in the 2020 election.

• Singapore’s block-vote system has been criticized by the opposition for favoring the PAP.

• In 2020, the Workers’ Party shocked the nation by winning 10 out of 93 seats. It is now aiming to build on that momentum.

• Several smaller opposition parties are also expected to contest this election.

Geopolitical Context:

This election comes amid global economic uncertainties, largely shaped by U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade policies. While Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Singapore, higher duties on other trade partners have created global recession fears, posing risks to Singapore’s trade-dependent economy.