On 15 April 2025, Singapore’s Parliament was officially dissolved by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, marking the beginning of the country’s general election period.
Soon after the announcement, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) issued a strongly worded statement criticising the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
The SDP accused the PAP of manipulating electoral procedures by allowing only 28 days between the release of new electoral boundaries and the dissolution of Parliament.
This period is significantly shorter than in the 2020 General Election, where more than three months separated both events.
According to the SDP, this abrupt timeline hinders the opposition’s ability to engage voters and present policy alternatives effectively.
The party claims this strategy reflects a deliberate effort by the PAP to suppress public discourse and reduce scrutiny ahead of the polls.
The statement also took direct aim at Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, criticising him for abandoning earlier promises of reform and change.
When sworn in, Wong had pledged, “I will never settle for the status quo.”
The SDP contended that this commitment now appears “empty” given his reliance on tactics they say mirror previous administrations.
The SDP believes the short timeframe denies voters a crucial opportunity to evaluate issues such as the high cost of living and what it called an “irrational immigration policy”.
It further alleged that the PAP’s haste was motivated by fear of growing public discontent on these matters.
“Mr Wong has denied Singaporeans this crucial opportunity,” the party stated, adding that such conduct undermines the integrity of elections as democratic exercises.
SDP says shortened election timeline limits voter engagement and gives PAP unfair advantage
The party argued that elections should provide citizens with ample time to examine the platforms, candidates, and manifestos of all contesting parties.
By limiting this engagement period, the SDP claimed, the ruling party is attempting to “maximise its advantage” and “preserve its position of power”.
It warned that without proper scrutiny, the coming term would see continued inaction on pressing national concerns.
The statement concluded by urging voters to send a clear message to the PAP at the ballot box, insisting the electorate should not tolerate strategies aimed at “crippling the opposition’s effort”.
The SDP also criticised the financial rewards associated with leadership, claiming that another term would “merely put more than US$10 million in Lawrence Wong’s bank account” while failing to offer lasting solutions to global and domestic challenges.
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