SINGAPORE: After their showing in the 2025 General Election, opposition parties making limited or no progress and securing a low overall voter share need to reassess their role in Singapore’s political landscape or risk becoming irrelevant, political analysts said on Monday (May 5).
They also suggested that such parties may need to either consolidate among themselves or join up with larger opposition parties.
When Singapore went to the polls on May 3, 27 candidates across four parties garnered less than 12.5 per cent of the votes in the constituencies they contested, losing their election deposits of S$13,500 (US$10,400) per candidate.
The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) secured 65.57 per cent of the national vote, improving on its 2020 performance by 4 percentage points, while the Workers’ Party (WP) increased its winning margins in Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC, securing 12 seats in parliament.
Contesting between four and 13 seats, candidates from the National Solidarity Party (NSP), People’s Power Party (PPP), Singapore United Party (SUP), Singapore People’s Party (SPP), Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), won between 0.13 per cent and 2.51 per cent of the national vote share.
The showing from such parties suggests that voters have “decisively rejected them”, said Dr Elvin Ong, an assistant professor of political science at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Despite their numerous policy proposals, these parties have “faltered” in fielding credible candidates and running disciplined campaigns, he added.
Comparing the average vote share of each party in the constituencies they contested would give a “more accurate” reading of how voters view the different opposition parties, he noted.
For example, NSP, which contested in 10 seats across Sembawang and Tampines GRC, won an average of 1.19 per cent of the votes in the two constituencies – in three-corner and four-corner fights respectively.
Opposition parties that lost their electoral deposits should “seriously consider” whether their continued participation in electoral politics is helping or harming the role of the opposition in Singapore’s overall democratic landscape, Dr Ong told CNA.
While everyone has a right to contest elections, this does not translate to a right to votes, said NUS associate professor of political science Chong Ja Ian, adding that parties and individuals have to convince Singaporeans to vote for them.
“If they are consistently and definitively unable to do so, they may wish to reconsider how they wish to participate in politics.”
Small parties may have a role in raising specific issues during an election, to get the public and other parties to focus on such matters, said Assoc Prof Chong.
Otherwise, they have to work the ground in a constituency and deliver benefits to the people who live there during the off-election cycle, he added, stressing that this is a slow process that requires both financial and manpower resources.
With Singapore’s changing electoral boundaries, which can “cut up” an area where a smaller party is working, these parties need to work in a large enough area to be less affected by boundary changes. “This is difficult with limited resources,” said Assoc Prof Chong.
From the results of this year’s election, voters seem to be indicating that they want opposition parties that can provide meaningful contributions to the country via policy proposals and constructive criticism, said Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) research fellow Teo Kay Key.
Voters also want a “loyal opposition” that does not oppose for the sake of opposing, she added.
If parties want a “meaningful future”, they need to take a “hard look” at their value proposition to the electorate, and whether there is demand for it, said Dr Teo.
Singapore Management University’s Eugene Tan noted that as WP contests in more constituencies, fewer seats are up for grabs among the smaller parties, which means multiway contests are more likely.
Describing the 2025 election as a “wipeout” for the smaller opposition parties, he added that these small and low-performing parties are “staring at the abyss of political irrelevance” unless they can demonstrate that they offer a value proposition to voters in a more crowded and fragmented opposition space.
These parties need to consider if they are “truly serving a role” in Singapore’s politics, said Assoc Prof Tan. If not, they could be better off exploring mergers with other smaller parties to consolidate limited resources.
“Some may have to consider shutting down if mergers are not on the cards. They can’t be the walking dead where the meaning in their political existence is merely to contest in a General Election and not lose their election deposits,” he added.
RDU’s Syed Alwi Ahmad, David Foo, Ravi Philemon, Sharon Lin and Pang Heng Chuan outside Yishun Town Secondary School after sample count results were released on May 3, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Clemens Choy)
Smaller opposition parties face “significant challenges for their future” because they will struggle to attract new candidates and resources, said Dr Rebecca Grace Tan, a lecturer with NUS' political science department.
Voters also want to vote for a party that can gain office and implement the changes that they want to see, she noted, adding that the recent results will work against these smaller, low-performing parties.
To build relevance and make more of an impact, parties will need to do two things – demonstrate that they are distinct from other parties in terms of positive policy stances, and make sure those stances are aligned with voter preferences, said Dr Tan.
“Simply being different isn’t enough if it simply goes against public sentiment,” she added.
Consolidating resources among the smaller parties will “serve them well”, said Mr Malminderjit Singh, managing director of political consultancy Terra Corporate Affairs.
This will also help with succession planning issues, which larger parties like the Progress Singapore Party and Singapore Democratic Party may also have to look at, he added.
“Besides attracting talent and consolidation, these parties need to stay the course and walk the ground between elections and not just turn up when it is General Election time,” said Mr Singh, adding that Singapore voters are increasingly discerning and will assess candidates’ presence throughout the five years between elections.
On newer parties that contested this election, experts noted Red Dot United (RDU) fielded the second-largest opposition slate, which contributed to a higher vote share.
By tripling the number of seats RDU contested compared to 2020, its vote share also more than tripled “even if it was still dismal”, said Mr Singh.
RDU contested 15 seats in the 2025 General Election, and garnered 3.96 per cent of the national vote share.
The party’s secretary-general Ravi Philemon is a “recognisable figure” and appeals to a segment of voters, which establishes some credibility, said Mr Singh.
“But clearly they will have to go beyond that if they are to make a larger impact going forward.”
SMU’s Assoc Prof Tan said RDU’s performance was a “promising start”. The large number of seats they contested helped to bump up their share of the national vote, he added, while questioning if they can sustain this in future elections.
“They will have to broaden their appeal and recruit from all races and backgrounds if they wish to grow further and ensure their political relevance,” he added.
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They also suggested that such parties may need to either consolidate among themselves or join up with larger opposition parties.
When Singapore went to the polls on May 3, 27 candidates across four parties garnered less than 12.5 per cent of the votes in the constituencies they contested, losing their election deposits of S$13,500 (US$10,400) per candidate.
The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) secured 65.57 per cent of the national vote, improving on its 2020 performance by 4 percentage points, while the Workers’ Party (WP) increased its winning margins in Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC, securing 12 seats in parliament.
Contesting between four and 13 seats, candidates from the National Solidarity Party (NSP), People’s Power Party (PPP), Singapore United Party (SUP), Singapore People’s Party (SPP), Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), won between 0.13 per cent and 2.51 per cent of the national vote share.
The showing from such parties suggests that voters have “decisively rejected them”, said Dr Elvin Ong, an assistant professor of political science at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Despite their numerous policy proposals, these parties have “faltered” in fielding credible candidates and running disciplined campaigns, he added.
Comparing the average vote share of each party in the constituencies they contested would give a “more accurate” reading of how voters view the different opposition parties, he noted.
For example, NSP, which contested in 10 seats across Sembawang and Tampines GRC, won an average of 1.19 per cent of the votes in the two constituencies – in three-corner and four-corner fights respectively.
Opposition parties that lost their electoral deposits should “seriously consider” whether their continued participation in electoral politics is helping or harming the role of the opposition in Singapore’s overall democratic landscape, Dr Ong told CNA.
While everyone has a right to contest elections, this does not translate to a right to votes, said NUS associate professor of political science Chong Ja Ian, adding that parties and individuals have to convince Singaporeans to vote for them.
“If they are consistently and definitively unable to do so, they may wish to reconsider how they wish to participate in politics.”
WHY THEY ARE FACING CHALLENGES
Small parties may have a role in raising specific issues during an election, to get the public and other parties to focus on such matters, said Assoc Prof Chong.
Otherwise, they have to work the ground in a constituency and deliver benefits to the people who live there during the off-election cycle, he added, stressing that this is a slow process that requires both financial and manpower resources.
With Singapore’s changing electoral boundaries, which can “cut up” an area where a smaller party is working, these parties need to work in a large enough area to be less affected by boundary changes. “This is difficult with limited resources,” said Assoc Prof Chong.
From the results of this year’s election, voters seem to be indicating that they want opposition parties that can provide meaningful contributions to the country via policy proposals and constructive criticism, said Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) research fellow Teo Kay Key.
Voters also want a “loyal opposition” that does not oppose for the sake of opposing, she added.
If parties want a “meaningful future”, they need to take a “hard look” at their value proposition to the electorate, and whether there is demand for it, said Dr Teo.
Singapore Management University’s Eugene Tan noted that as WP contests in more constituencies, fewer seats are up for grabs among the smaller parties, which means multiway contests are more likely.
Describing the 2025 election as a “wipeout” for the smaller opposition parties, he added that these small and low-performing parties are “staring at the abyss of political irrelevance” unless they can demonstrate that they offer a value proposition to voters in a more crowded and fragmented opposition space.
These parties need to consider if they are “truly serving a role” in Singapore’s politics, said Assoc Prof Tan. If not, they could be better off exploring mergers with other smaller parties to consolidate limited resources.
“Some may have to consider shutting down if mergers are not on the cards. They can’t be the walking dead where the meaning in their political existence is merely to contest in a General Election and not lose their election deposits,” he added.
RDU’s Syed Alwi Ahmad, David Foo, Ravi Philemon, Sharon Lin and Pang Heng Chuan outside Yishun Town Secondary School after sample count results were released on May 3, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Clemens Choy)
HOW TO GAIN RELEVANCE
Smaller opposition parties face “significant challenges for their future” because they will struggle to attract new candidates and resources, said Dr Rebecca Grace Tan, a lecturer with NUS' political science department.
Voters also want to vote for a party that can gain office and implement the changes that they want to see, she noted, adding that the recent results will work against these smaller, low-performing parties.
To build relevance and make more of an impact, parties will need to do two things – demonstrate that they are distinct from other parties in terms of positive policy stances, and make sure those stances are aligned with voter preferences, said Dr Tan.
“Simply being different isn’t enough if it simply goes against public sentiment,” she added.
Consolidating resources among the smaller parties will “serve them well”, said Mr Malminderjit Singh, managing director of political consultancy Terra Corporate Affairs.
This will also help with succession planning issues, which larger parties like the Progress Singapore Party and Singapore Democratic Party may also have to look at, he added.
“Besides attracting talent and consolidation, these parties need to stay the course and walk the ground between elections and not just turn up when it is General Election time,” said Mr Singh, adding that Singapore voters are increasingly discerning and will assess candidates’ presence throughout the five years between elections.
On newer parties that contested this election, experts noted Red Dot United (RDU) fielded the second-largest opposition slate, which contributed to a higher vote share.
By tripling the number of seats RDU contested compared to 2020, its vote share also more than tripled “even if it was still dismal”, said Mr Singh.
RDU contested 15 seats in the 2025 General Election, and garnered 3.96 per cent of the national vote share.
The party’s secretary-general Ravi Philemon is a “recognisable figure” and appeals to a segment of voters, which establishes some credibility, said Mr Singh.
“But clearly they will have to go beyond that if they are to make a larger impact going forward.”
SMU’s Assoc Prof Tan said RDU’s performance was a “promising start”. The large number of seats they contested helped to bump up their share of the national vote, he added, while questioning if they can sustain this in future elections.
“They will have to broaden their appeal and recruit from all races and backgrounds if they wish to grow further and ensure their political relevance,” he added.
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