The People’s Action Party (PAP) cruised to a commanding victory in Singapore’s general elections on Saturday, reinforcing its 66-year grip on power.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took the reins just a year ago, emerged from the ballot with a fresh mandate to steer the trade-dependent nation through increasingly choppy global waters.

The PAP clinched 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats, including five that went uncontested. It marked a rebound from 2020, with the party’s share of the popular vote climbing to 65.6%. This is a significant rise from its near-record low of 61% in the previous polls.

The main opposition Workers’ Party retained its 10 seats, failing to expand its foothold despite hopes for greater traction.

Wong, a 52-year-old US-educated economist and current finance minister, framed the victory as a vote of confidence in his leadership during turbulent times. He pointed to how voters expressed a desire for more diverse voices in Parliament while still valuing a strong, cohesive government.

For Singapore’s business and HR leaders, the election outcome is a signal of policy predictability and continued technocratic governance.

With global economic headwinds – sparked in part by the fallout from US President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes – dragging on trade flows, the city-state has already revised its growth forecasts downward and is bracing for the possibility of a recession.

Against this backdrop, many voters opted not to rock the boat.

The weight of legacy and the appeal of renewal

Wong’s ascent to power in May 2024 marked the end of a political era. He succeeded Lee Hsien Loong, who served as prime minister for 20 years and remains in Cabinet as senior minister.

Lee’s retirement closed the chapter on a family legacy stretching back to his father, Lee Kuan Yew, the architect of modern Singapore, who governed from 1959 to 1990. That legacy remains etched in the national psyche, where the PAP continues to be seen as a byword for order and economic advancement.

But even icons face wear and tear. Rising costs of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities, soaring property prices, growing income inequality, and a tightly controlled civic space have left younger Singaporeans increasingly restive.

The PAP, long seen as a pillar of predictability, now faces the growing challenge of staying relevant in a rapidly evolving socio-economic landscape.

Still, the opposition has yet to fully capitalise on these cracks.

Meanwhile, Pritam Singh, leader of the Workers’ Party, acknowledged the uphill climb and attributed the modest results to fragmented support, limited resources, and systemic disadvantages such as gerrymandering.

A recalibrated PAP and a fresh style of leadership

Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia political analyst, pointed out that the PAP’s renewed energy under Wong, alongside fears of global economic instability, helped solidify the win.

“I call this the Wong and Trump effect,” Welsh said, as quoted by the Associated Press. “The issue of economic insecurity really did reinforce his mandate.”

Wong’s leadership style – more personable, more attuned to youth sentiment, and bolstered by a team that includes about one-third new faces – appears to have re-energised the party’s brand. He has shown willingness to engage in more direct dialogue with citizens, a shift that has not gone unnoticed among younger voters and professionals.

For employers and HR leaders, Wong’s mandate may offer some comfort: the guardrails of Singapore’s stability remain in place, while subtle shifts in leadership tone and composition could signal a more empathetic approach to policymaking.

With companies recalibrating workforce strategies and talent pipelines amid macroeconomic uncertainty, the emphasis on continuity, competence, and cautious evolution will likely remain a defining feature of the city-state’s political and economic playbook.

While the election didn’t dramatically alter the political map, it reaffirmed the PAP’s staying power – and Wong’s ability to convince a cautious electorate that he’s the right man for a high-stakes job.

In choosing leaders to govern a globalised trading hub, Singapore voters have opted to stand on solid ground, trusting in Wong’s balanced leadership.