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May 20, 2024

Singapore’s Presidential Poll Isn't Perfect. Citizens Should Vote Anyway

The candidates are meant to be above politics. The problem is, none of them are. Above politics? Photographer: Nicky Loh/Bloomberg Predictability is the name of the game in Singapore’s elections. The

The candidates are meant to be above politics. The problem is, none of them are.

Above politics?

Photographer: Nicky Loh/Bloomberg

Predictability is the name of the game in Singapore’s elections. The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and its candidates always win handsomely. And while their margin of success is the envy of political parties and politicians the world over, for the PAP every single point counts. It is a sign of just how satisfied Singapore’s 3.5 million or so citizens are with the ruling party. And a signal of whether longevity and legitimacy amount to the same thing.

But whoever gets to be the island’s president is meant to be above politics, and not hold any political affiliation. In fact, one of the rules is that you can’t be a member of any political party on Nomination Day. Yet some Singaporeans are seeing this election as a referendum on the ruling party — because many of them are increasingly fed up with the way candidates have been selected.