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Singapore Polls Open in Election Seen as Referendum on Ruling Party Singapore Polls Open in Election Seen as Referendum on Ruling Party
(about 11 hours later)
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Millions of Singaporeans were flocking to the polls on Friday for the country’s first general election in four years, in a vote that analysts say is a referendum on the performance of the governing People’s Action Party. JAKARTA, Indonesia — Millions of Singaporeans flocked to the polls on Friday for the country’s first general election in four years, in a vote that analysts say is a referendum on the performance of the governing People’s Action Party.
In 2011, P.A.P., as the party is known, had its worst-ever electoral showing by winning barely 60 percent of the popular vote. While the party, which has governed continuously since 1965, still won 81 of 87 contested seats in Parliament, its vote tally was seen as a rebuke from voters angry about a number of issues, including the high cost of living, inefficient public transportation and an immense influx of highly skilled foreign workers perceived to be taking jobs from Singaporeans. In 2011, the party, which has governed continuously since 1965, won 60 percent of the popular vote, its worst showing ever. And though it still won 81 of 87 contested seats in Parliament, its vote tally was seen as a rebuke from voters angry about a number of issues, including the high cost of living, inefficient public transportation and an immense influx of highly skilled foreign workers perceived to be taking jobs from Singaporeans.
The P.A.P. put into place a series of policies aimed at mollifying voters. While analysts said the P.A.P. is expected to win again, whether it picks up the seats it lost in 2011 or loses even more will determine whether voters want it to maintain its dominance in politics or give opposition parties more of a voice. The party put into place a series of policies aimed at mollifying voters. While analysts said it was expected to win again, a recapture of the lost seats — or the loss of even more — will show whether voters want it to maintain its dominance in politics or give opposition parties more of a voice.
The election has generated huge excitement among the public. The vote is the first since the death of modern Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, in March, and the first in which all the seats in Parliament, currently numbering 89, are being contested.The election has generated huge excitement among the public. The vote is the first since the death of modern Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, in March, and the first in which all the seats in Parliament, currently numbering 89, are being contested.
The election also comes during yearlong public celebrations honoring the island state’s 50th anniversary of independence in August.The election also comes during yearlong public celebrations honoring the island state’s 50th anniversary of independence in August.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the son of Singapore’s founding father, called on voters during the eight-day campaign that ended on Wednesday to give the governing party “your mandate.” He repeatedly cited the government’s track record, and often invoked the name of his father, whose leadership and force of will turned Singapore from an impoverished former British colonial outpost into a global financial center. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Mr. Lee’s son, called on voters during the eight-day campaign that ended on Wednesday to give the governing party “your mandate.” He repeatedly cited the government’s track record, and often invoked the name of his father, whose leadership and force of will turned Singapore from an impoverished former British colonial outpost into a global financial center.
However, Low Thia Khiang, the head of the opposition Workers’ Party, which won six seats in Parliament in 2011, implored voters to give them even more seats in order to act as a check on the government, saying state policies were often a reflection of the P.A.P.’s “whims and fancies” and not for the benefit of the population. However, Low Thia Khiang, the head of the opposition Workers’ Party, which won six seats in Parliament in 2011, implored voters to give the party more seats io act as a check on the government, saying state policies were often a reflection of the ruling party’s “whims and fancies” and not for the benefit of the population.
A total of eight opposition parties are contesting the elections, but analysts said only one or two stand a chance at winning a seat. Eight opposition parties are contesting the elections, but analysts said only one or two stood a chance of winning a seat.
Andrew Low, founder of The Online Citizen, an independent news outlet, said the margin of the P.A.P.’s inevitable win, both in seats and the popular vote, would be a measure of the public’s mood. Andrew Low, founder of The Online Citizen, an independent news outlet, said the margin of the People’s Action Party’s inevitable win, both in seats and the popular vote, would be a measure of the public’s mood.
“I would like to see a more diverse Parliament,” he said. “If the P.A.P. wins more seats, the government will feel a sense of vindication that what they are doing is right.”“I would like to see a more diverse Parliament,” he said. “If the P.A.P. wins more seats, the government will feel a sense of vindication that what they are doing is right.”
Voting is compulsory, so turnout among the nearly 2.5 million voters is expected to be high, despite air quality listed in the “unhealthy” range on Friday because of forest fires in neighboring Indonesia that have blanketed Singapore in a thick haze.Voting is compulsory, so turnout among the nearly 2.5 million voters is expected to be high, despite air quality listed in the “unhealthy” range on Friday because of forest fires in neighboring Indonesia that have blanketed Singapore in a thick haze.
Singaporeans who cast their ballot shortly after polls opened at 8 a.m. local time reported waiting less than 20 minutes.Singaporeans who cast their ballot shortly after polls opened at 8 a.m. local time reported waiting less than 20 minutes.