Singapore's ruling party holds on to power but faces setback

11/7/2020 12:04

        Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's long-governing party comfortably won Friday's general elections as expected amid the coronavirus pandemic, but faced a setback as the opposition made minor gains.
        
        Lee said his People's Action Party secured 83 parliamentary seats, retaining its overwhelming majority with 89% of the total seats, but its popular vote dipped to 61%. The Workers' Party, the only opposition with a presence in Parliament, increased its seats from six to 10 — the biggest victory for the opposition since independence.
        
        It marked a decline in the PAP's performance from 2015 polls when it took 93% of seats and nearly 70% of total vote. Several key PAP leaders also lost, including two former ministers.