Explainer: Why does a party dominate Singapore politics?

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singaporeans are expected to return to the People’s Action Party in power in the July 10 general election, extending their uninterrupted rule since the independence of the Southeast Asian island in 1965.

At that time, Singapore has only had three prime ministers: independence leader Lee Kuan Yew, his cabinet colleague Goh Chok Tong, and Lee’s son, current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Having oversaw rapid economic growth and prosperity, the PAP has entrenched itself in power. But there are other factors that have kept rivals at bay.

UNIQUE MODEL

Voting in the former British colony is compulsory, and around 2.65 million will vote in the next election.

Singapore’s electoral system is broadly based on Westminster’s “first in the past” model, in which the candidate who wins the most votes in each constituency is chosen, and the number of seats is not proportional to the distribution of votes.

In the last elections of 2015, the PAP obtained 69.9% of the votes, but obtained around 93% of the parliamentary seats.

To view a graph of past election results, click here: tmsnrt.rs/3dFIStm

But there is also a twist to Singapore’s electoral system. In some constituencies, candidates are presented in teams of up to six with at least one member of a minority group, a system designed to ensure better racial representation in the majority Chinese city-state.

Smaller and with fewer resources, some opposition parties struggle to find enough candidates for these so-called group representation groups.

But the ruling party is sensitive to changes in its overall vote share. After its worst result in 2011, when it garnered 60% of the vote, the PAP accelerated restrictions on foreign labor to allay people’s concerns about immigration and employment. Similar problems have dominated this campaign as Singapore prepares for its deepest recession due to the coronavirus pandemic.

RESTRICTIONS

Human rights groups such as ASEAN human rights lawmakers have long pointed to several other electoral processes that they say harm the opposition.

For example, Singapore’s electoral divisions are regularly revised to reflect population growth and changes. But the process is opaque and opposition figures have previously made allegations of gerrymandering.

The prime minister may also call an election, with presidential approval, in the short term, creating difficulties for the opposition to prepare. The campaign period for the next vote is only nine days.

The financial cost of running can also be a deterrent. Candidates must submit electoral deposits of S $ 13,500 ($ 9,675) to stay on foot, compared to £ 500 ($ 623) in Britain, and need to earn more than one eighth of the total vote to get their deposit back.

GROUP SHOT

The opposition is fractured.

A record 11 parties will contest the 2020 elections: the PAP will rank at 93 seats, followed by the new Progress Singapore Party (24), the Workers’ Party (21) and the Singapore Democratic Party (11). The rest will be 10 or less.

Political analysts say opposition parties tend to present themselves as a check against PAP dominance rather than offering a viable alternative government.

Major local media outlets, which have close ties to the government, generally support state and government policies even during an election, rights groups say. The PAP did not respond to a request for comment, and its leaders have previously said that press freedoms must be practiced with national interests in mind.

LEGAL ISSUES

Opposition figures, including the late JB Jeyaretnam and Chee Soon Juan of the SDP, have been sued by PAP members and declared bankrupt. PAP leaders have said that defamation lawsuits were necessary to protect their reputation.

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More recently, some opposition figures complained about a controversial fake news law, and were told that their online posts must carry a banner stating that they contain false information.