Singapore PM Wong receives strong mandate

Singapore's long-ruling People Action Party (PAP) led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has returned to power in a landslide victory in the country's general election held amid global economic uncertainties. Voters overwhelmingly endorsed the ruling party, which secured 87 of 97 seats in Saturday's election. The PAP clinched 65.6% of the vote, surpassing the 61.2% achieved in the 2020 contest, The Straits Times newspaper reported.

The results gave Prime Minister Wong the clear mandate he had sought in his first electoral contest as head of government and leader of the PAP. Wong at a press conference on Sunday said the clear and strong mandate that Singaporeans have given the PAP was deeply humbling, and called the results "a clear signal of trust, stability and confidence" by Singaporeans in their government.

The immediate next task is to form the Cabinet and Wong said he was grateful that all his key MPs had been voted in, and he could put together the best team to serve Singapore. "I will announce the Cabinet line-up when ready," he said. 

Against the backdrop of party renewal and leadership transition, Singaporeans chose political stability and economic safety over the opposition's calls for greater checks and balances, reported Channel News Asia. 

The PAP, Singapore's oldest and largest political party, has ruled the city-state ever since independence in 1965. 

Reiterating that the bigger contest is not between political parties but between Singapore and the challenges it faces, Wong at the press conference noted that the election took place at a critical time for the country, as the world faces an economic slowdown as well as fundamental shifts in the international order.

"The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world," said Wong.