Singapore City, 1 Sep, 2023 (GNP): Singaporeans have cast their votes in the city-state’s first contested presidential election in 12 years, marking a significant moment in the nation’s political landscape. The outcome of this election is being closely observed as an indicator of public sentiment towards the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) following a series of recent political scandals.
The election, held on Friday, has garnered widespread attention as it is seen as a gauge of support for the long-standing PAP, which has governed Singapore since 1959. Recent scandals, including a corruption probe involving the transport minister and the resignations of two PAP legislators over an affair, have created a unique political climate.
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Mustafa Izzuddin, a political analyst with consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, commented, “The presidential election is increasingly being treated as a general election. An increase in protest voting is anticipated due to vacillating ground sentiments vis-a-vis the ruling government.”
Although the presidency in Singapore holds a mostly ceremonial, nonpartisan role under the constitution, political lines have been drawn for this election. Incumbent Halimah Yacob, who ran unopposed in 2017, will be replaced after serving her six-year term.
As per the sources, the result of this election will be interesting as it comes at a time when the ruling PAP has been under some pressure, which raises the possibility of a ‘protest vote’.
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The frontrunner in the election is Tharman Shanmugaratnam, a former deputy prime minister and finance minister who has been a stalwart of the PAP. However, questions about his political independence have arisen during the campaign.
Another candidate, Tan Kin Lian, has gained support from several opposition leaders, while Ng Kok Song, the former chief investment officer of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, is also in the race.
Singaporean presidential candidates are required to have served as senior civil servants or chief executives of companies with shareholder equity of at least 500 million Singaporean dollars ($370 million). The president is responsible for overseeing the city’s financial reserves and has the authority to veto certain measures and approve anticorruption probes.
It’s important to note that voting is compulsory for Singapore’s more than 2.7 million eligible citizens, with failure to vote without a valid reason resulting in removal from the voter list.
The results of this historic election will be closely monitored for potential shifts in the political landscape and their implications for the nation’s future.