SINGAPORE RULING PARTY WINS, RETURN TO POWER

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.

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