Singapore's People's Action Party won its 16th general election on Saturday, supporting stability in the face of rising geopolitical tensions as voters rely on trade and countries voted.
Pap's streak dates back to 1959, when Singapore was a British colony - gaining 87 seats in 97 seats, including five undisputed seats in the results announced early Sunday morning.
Under the leadership of the party's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who served as the party's prime minister a year ago, the party received 66% of the vote, above 61% in the last general election in 2020 and the highest victory rate in a decade.
This year's election is set against the backdrop of an escalating global trade war, a series of tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump a month ago.
With Singapore's global trade equivalent to more than three times its GDP, financial and commercial hubs (which play a crucial role in the exchange of goods and services between China and the West) are considered particularly vulnerable to global trade downturns.
"The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world," Wong said in a speech at 3 a.m., calling the election a "clear signal of trust, stability and confidence."
The election is seen as a key test for Wong and Pap, 52, which is the future outside the Lee Dynasty, which has dominated Singaporean politics for the past seventy years and has overseen the transformation of city-states from developing countries to one of the richest countries in the world.
Wong took over Lee Hsien Loong, son of Lee Kuan Yew, founder of modernity in the country. Lee Hsien Loong retains an influential consulting role within the government, the country has 20 years of history.
Like recent elections in Canada and Australia, incumbents have performed well in increasing geopolitical uncertainty.
Singapore has lowered its growth forecast for this year to 0-2% from 1-3% of the outlook for disruption of global trade and warns of a possible recession.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Wong and Pap on their victory, adding: “For nearly 60 years, the United States and Singapore have shared a strong and lasting strategic partnership and promised a safe, free and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
The Workers’ Party, the main opposition group, won 10 seats like they did five years ago, but will receive two other so-called non-statistical seats as it occupies PAP distance in some constituencies.
Workers' Party leader Pritam Singh admitted it was a tough campaign and he was sentenced to lie to parliament in a case he was competing.
"The slate is wiped clean, we'll start working again tomorrow, we're starting again," he said.