The political framework of Singapore

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Tharman Shanmugaratnam (since 14 September 2023)
Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004, reelected 10 July 2020)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: 2029
Parliamentary: 2025

Current Political Context

Even though it won 83 out of 95 seats, the People's Action Party (PAP), which has governed the country since independence in 1965, came out relatively weakened in the July 2020 general election, where it won 61% of the vote, down from 70% in 2015. The biggest opposition group, the Workers' Party, had its best result to date, winning 10 seats. Although he initially promised he would step down from power before he turned 70 in February 2022, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, son of founding statesman Lee Kwan Yew, has eventually said he will not resign until the economic and health crisis is resolved. Presidential elections were held in September 2023: in the non-partisan election, three candidates vied for the position: Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Ng Kok Song, and Tan Kin Lian. Tharman secured a substantial majority, garnering 70.41% of the votes and achieving a historic winning margin. Notably, he became the first non-Chinese candidate directly elected to the presidency. Albeit formally independent, Tharman has strong ties with the People's Action Party, having been a member since 2001 (resigning just before the election took place).

Main Political Parties

Although Singapore is a multi-party nation, the centre-right People's Action Party (PAP) has dominated its legislature since 1959 and continues to hold an overwhelming majority of the single-chamber parliament.

Opposition parties are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power. Some opposition groups include:
- Singapore Democratic Party (SDP): a liberal democratic party
- Workers' Party of Singapore (WP): centre-left, opposition party with the most seats
- Progress Singapore Party (PSP): centre-right.

Executive Power

The President of Singapore is the head of State. The role of the President is largely ceremonial. Following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed Prime Minister by the President as head of the Government. The Prime Minister enjoys all of the executive powers, which include implementation of the law and running day-to-day affairs.

Legislative Power

The legislature is unicameral in Singapore. The Parliament consists of up to 105 seats: ninety-three are elected by the people while up to 12 Non-constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP) and up to nine Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP) may be appointed. After the 2020 general election, 93 MPs were elected and two NCMPs were appointed (or, in the terms of the Parliamentary Elections Act, declared elected) to Parliament. Parliament controls the action of the government. This depends on the support of parliament, often expressed by a vote of confidence.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

160/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Partly Free

Political Freedom:

4/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House