Stakes high in GE2025; no guarantee PAP will win, form stable govt: PM

He urges party members to work hard to earn the confidence, trust of Singaporeans

- Kenneth Cheng

The upcoming general election in 2025 will be a high-stakes one, and Singapore risks ending up with a much weaker government if there is just a modest swing in popular votes against the ruling party, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Speaking at the People's Action Party conference at the Singapore Expo on Nov 24, he told party members: "Please don't think it is guaranteed that the PAP will win and form a stable government."

In a speech lasting about 40 minutes, the Prime Minister also highlighted the need for Singaporeans to stay united in the midst of trying circumstances beyond the country's borders, and spoke of the urgency for the PAP to have a fresh crop of younger candidates who can take the nation forward.

He noted that in the 2020 General Election, the opposition had warned Singaporeans against an "opposition wipe-out".

"Actually, there is no chance of that happening at all," he said, adding that the opposition in Singapore is here to stay.

There have been opposition MPs in Parliament since 1981, and the Non-Constituency MP scheme guarantees at least 12 opposition MPs in the House, noted PM Wong, who is set to take over as PAP secretary-general. He is now the party's deputy secretary-general.

"In fact, given the desire for more opposition voices, the bigger risk we face is the loss of a stable and strong and good government," he said.

The opposition admits it is far from ready to form the Government, he told an audience of about 3,000 PAP cadres, activists and guests.

"They say that partly because they know that Singaporeans will not support them if they openly declare their intention to govern," he added.