SINGAPORE — Singapore's prime minister on Saturday lauded
the city-state's youth vote for helping return his party to power in a massive
victory for the 12th time since independence a half-century ago.
The victory of the People's Action Party was never in doubt
— it has won every elections since 1965 — but the huge sweep in Friday's
general elections means the struggling opposition made no headway despite
highlighting problems like income disparity, restrictions on free speech,
overcrowding caused by immigration, and the rising cost of living.
The PAP got 83 of the 89 seats in Parliament while the
opposition Workers' Party captured six. In an indication that the PAP has
regained some of its lost popularity, it won 69.86 percent of the votes cast,
according to the Elections Department, compared to 60 percent votes in the 2011
elections.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who won from the Ang Mo Kio
constituency, singled out the youth, saying the results show that the young
people "understand what is at stake, support what we are doing."
"It's a PAP landslide. An election that was focused on
the opposition gaining ground had a reverse effect on voters.
We are seeing the
consensus of a silent majority, the people who are not active on social media,
and they are sticking with the PAP," said Bridget Welsh,a senior research associate at National
Taiwan University's Center for
East Asia Democratic Studies.
Taiwan University's Center for
East Asia Democratic Studies.
Source: Yahoo(AP)...More...
Post a Comment