Singapore's People's Action Party was returned to power in Saturday's general election, maintaining the political structure that has led the city-state since independence despite the toughest fight the opposition has ever mustered.
In early results Sunday, the PAP, led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, so far has won 45 of 87 parliamentary seats, with results yet to be announced for 41 seats.
Opposition parties, which collectively contested a record 82 seats, so far have secured one seat. The poll was the most competitive since Singapore became a nation in 1965.
The PAP was always expected to win handily, but the election saw unprecedented competition for seats and an unusually spirited opposition drive. The election was seen as a vote on the ruling party's economic policies, which evoked strong criticism on issues like rising housing and transport costs, the influx of foreign labor and widening income inequality.
Formed by Singapore's guiding architect, Lee Kuan Yew, the PAP has run the country for nearly half a century. In the last poll in 2006, the ruling party won 82 out of 84 seats with 67% of the popular vote.
Prime Minister Lee, the founding father's son, won his second poll since becoming premier in 2004. He campaigned on a theme that this election would usher in Singapore's next generation of leaders, including a possible future prime minister. The win also provides a mandate for another generation of the PAP to carry on when 87-year-old Lee Kuan Yew is gone.
The elder Mr. Lee already won his parliamentary seat on April 27, the day candidates filed nominations, as he was unopposed in his five-seat constituency.
Apart from Prime Minister Lee, who retained his parliamentary seat, key ministers such as Lim Hng Kiang, trade and industry minister, and Goh Chok Tong, senior minister, were also re-elected.
In early results Sunday, the PAP, led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, so far has won 45 of 87 parliamentary seats, with results yet to be announced for 41 seats.
Opposition parties, which collectively contested a record 82 seats, so far have secured one seat. The poll was the most competitive since Singapore became a nation in 1965.
The PAP was always expected to win handily, but the election saw unprecedented competition for seats and an unusually spirited opposition drive. The election was seen as a vote on the ruling party's economic policies, which evoked strong criticism on issues like rising housing and transport costs, the influx of foreign labor and widening income inequality.
Formed by Singapore's guiding architect, Lee Kuan Yew, the PAP has run the country for nearly half a century. In the last poll in 2006, the ruling party won 82 out of 84 seats with 67% of the popular vote.
Prime Minister Lee, the founding father's son, won his second poll since becoming premier in 2004. He campaigned on a theme that this election would usher in Singapore's next generation of leaders, including a possible future prime minister. The win also provides a mandate for another generation of the PAP to carry on when 87-year-old Lee Kuan Yew is gone.
The elder Mr. Lee already won his parliamentary seat on April 27, the day candidates filed nominations, as he was unopposed in his five-seat constituency.
Apart from Prime Minister Lee, who retained his parliamentary seat, key ministers such as Lim Hng Kiang, trade and industry minister, and Goh Chok Tong, senior minister, were also re-elected.