Lee is seeking a fresh mandate from voters anxious over immigration and the high cost of living in a slowing economy.
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For the younger generation, Singapore’s economic success “does not have that much resonance compared with their parents or grandparents”, said Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at Singapore Management University.
“Companies would still find costs going up and would have to pass some of this on to consumers; they would also have to pass up opportunities because they can’t find the workers”, said Lee.
The election will follow a parade and other celebrations around National Day on August 9 that drew more than 200,000 people.
This will be the 13th General Election to be held in Singapore.
The last poll saw the PAP secure 60 percent of the popular vote, its lowest share since 1965.
“Workers want us to raise the re-employment age”.
Lee also boosted the city-state’s cash bonus schemes for parents of newborn babies and increased government-subsidised paternity leave to two weeks from one week now . You will be setting the direction for Singapore for the next 50 years. The nation’s elderly will triple to 900,000 by 2030, according to the National Population and Talent Division.
Although that number implies massive popularity for the PAP, the party has been aided by an electoral system in which some constituencies are represented by a group of four to six lawmakers, which serves to boost the winning party’s numbers.
Lui Tuck Yew, the current transport minister, has already indicated that he will not stand for re-election.
While Lui oversaw expansion of the public-transportation network, he’s had to deal with infrastructure breakdowns.
He unveiled a set of measures for Singaporean employees and families.
However, Lee said there were no easy choices in regard to immigration. “Those like me who are more focused on policymaking and implementation were thinking that it would be important for the effects of these policy reforms to be properly felt before the ground would be sweet and the incumbent governing party would call the election“.
The opposition parties have met twice recently to work out seat contesting arrangement and avoid multi-cornered contests.
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This is a theme the opposition parties can be expected to use to appeal to voters.
