Singapore Faces May 3 Election With 11 Parties Contesting

Singapore is set to hold a parliamentary election on May 3, with 11 parties contesting for seats in the city-state of 6 million people. The long-ruling People's Action Party (PAP), led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, is focusing on policies to address rising living costs, including financial support for job losses, vouchers, and expanded public housing. The main opposition, the Workers' Party, led by Pritam Singh, advocates for a more balanced parliament and has called for measures such as exempting basic goods from consumption tax and introducing redundancy insurance. Other opposition parties, such as the Progress Singapore Party and the Singapore Democratic Party, are also campaigning on platforms emphasizing governance and human rights, respectively. Election rallies have drawn significant public engagement, with the opposition stressing the need for alternative voices in parliament to counter PAP's dominance. The outcome is being closely watched by international investors given Singapore's strategic economic position.