Election Season

So it’s election season again and the main stream media and social media are filled with election related news. Everyday new candidates are introduced.

I wonder if now is the best time to call the elections for the ruling party.

In 2015, elections was held in the immediate aftermath of LKY’s death. The outpouring of “grief” and gratitude to the founders generation ensured that the ruling party scored almost 70% then.

In 2020, election was held just after Covid broke out. The ruling party must have thought they would do well as the people were afraid then of the future and at that time, political and economic stability was important. Social distancing rules and mask wearing made campaigning difficult for the opposition. Surprisingly the ruling party only managed 61.24%.

Issues such as cost of living, property prices, car prices, employment related issues, immigration related issues, general economic conditions, the conflict in Gaza and some own goals are going to make this even tougher than 2020 for the ruling party.

People I speak to are generally negative about the current state of affairs in Singapore although I confess I have no idea where the sentiments of the heartlanders are.

Can the current tariff war be used to warn people that they are going to be in for a rough ride and they therefore need to vote carefully? Not sure the common man would understand the implications of tariffs.

The Worker’s Party has been quietly working the ground and they have picked up some good new candidates. I think they will do well.

The new PM will want very much to make his mark and bring in his new younger team. Pity it is not the best of times although the current state of affairs is not of his doing. Just hope he doesn’t get the blame if they do not do well.