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==Political climate== {{anchor | Climate }} ===Domination of the People's Action Party=== {{anchor | Dominant | Domination }} {{see also | Dominant party system | Political_family#Q | l2= Dynastic politics in Singapore | Nepotism#Singapore | l3= Nepotism in Singapore politics }} In the 2020 election, the PAP won 83 out of 93 seats, or 89% of the seats in Singapore's parliament. The remaining seats are split between the [[The Workers' Party (Singapore)|Workers' Party]] (WP), which won 10,<ref>{{Cite news |last=hermes |date=2020-07-11 |title=GE2020: PAP wins 83 of 93 seats; WP takes two GRCs |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/pap-wins-83-of-93-seats-wp-takes-two-grcs |access-date=2020-07-15 |website=The Straits Times |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Progress Singapore Party]], which won 2 [[Non-constituency Member of Parliament]] seats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GE2020: PSP's Hazel Poa and Leong Mun Wai will take up NCMP seats |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ge2020-psp-hazel-poa-leong-mun-wai-ncmp-seats-12930876 |access-date=2020-07-15 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref> ===Oppression of political opponents === {{anchor | Oppression }} One commonly cited reason for a lack of a strong opposition in Singapore is the use of defamation lawsuits by the PAP to bankrupt political opponents and disqualify them from running for office when accusations were made against PAP politicians.<ref name="Diplomat">{{Cite web |last=Andrews |first=Sally |title='Soft' Repression: The Struggle for Democracy in Singapore |url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/02/soft-repression-the-struggle-for-democracy-in-singapore/ |access-date=5 November 2017 |website=The Diplomat }}</ref><ref name="SEAPA">{{Cite news |last=Foong Lian |first=Hah |date=12 May 2010 |title=Defeating rivals through defamation lawsuits - SEAPA β Southeast Asian Press Alliance |work=seapa.org |url=https://www.seapa.org/defeating-rivals-through-defamation-lawsuits/ |url-status=dead |access-date=5 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030330/https://www.seapa.org/defeating-rivals-through-defamation-lawsuits/ |archive-date=7 November 2017}}</ref> Cases include former leader of the WP [[J. B. Jeyaretnam]] and leader of the [[Singapore Democratic Party]] (SDP) [[Chee Soon Juan]], who were bankrupted in 2001 and 2011 respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Strategy and Ethnic Politics in Singapore |url=http://www.tfd.org.tw/docs/dj0401/135-154-Joel%20S.%20Fetzer.pdf |access-date=9 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chee |first=Soon Juan |title=Singapore is taking the first steps to true democracy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/may/10/singapore-election-democracy-new-media |access-date=18 January 2015 |website=The Guardian|date=10 May 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Times |first=David A. Andelman Special to the New York |date=1977-04-09 |title=Singapore Pushing a Stern Drive To Silence Critics and Dissidents |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/09/archives/singapore-pushing-a-stern-drive-to-silence-critics-and-dissidents.html |access-date=2017-09-07 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> ===Suppression of political freedom of expression === {{anchor | Suppression | Freedom | Expression | FOE }} {{see also | Human_rights_in_Singapore#FOE | l1= Lack of political freedom of expression in Singapore }} Another reason given is the pursuit of legal action against journalists and bloggers critical of the PAP and its policies.<ref name="FreedomHouse" /><ref name="Quartz">{{Cite news |last=Guilford |first=Gwynn |title=A blogger questioned the Singapore miracle, and the prime minister is trying to bankrupt him |work=Quartz |url=https://qz.com/497287/singapore-blogger-roy-ngerng-sued-by-prime-minister-lee/ |access-date=5 November 2017}}</ref> [[Reporters Without Borders]] cites such lawsuits, along with attempts at making critical journalists unemployable, among its concerns when ranking the country 151st in the world for press freedom in 2017.<ref name="RSF">{{Cite web |title=Singapore : Intolerant government, self-censorship {{!}} Reporters without borders |url=https://rsf.org/en/singapore |access-date=5 November 2017 |website=RSF |language=fr-FR}}</ref> ===Political control over media=== {{anchor | Control | Media }} Singapore's media landscape is tightly controlled by the PAP government, which maintains strict regulations and oversight over press and broadcast content. The government exercises control through licensing laws, majority ownership of major media outlets such as [[Mediacorp]] and [[SPH Media Trust]], consequently creating a climate where [[self-censorship]] is widespread. Journalists and editors often avoid controversial topics or criticism of government policies to maintain compliance, job security or avoid potential legal repercussions. As a result, while Singapore's media is known for its polished and orderly presentation, it often lacks the investigative depth and critical scrutiny found in more liberal media environments, particularly of local politics. In 2019, the [[Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act]] (POFMA) was enacted, which allows the government to order corrections or removals of online content it deems "false and harmful". While the government defends it as a tool to protect public interest, critics argue it grants excessive power to authorities, risks censorship, and has highlighted its [[chilling effect]] on free speech and democratic discourse. ===Political threats to voters === {{anchor | Threat | Threats | Voter | Voters }} The PAP has in the past threatened voters by saying that constituencies voting for opposition MPs would be put at the bottom of the list for public housing programs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aglionby |first=John |date=26 October 2001 |title=A tick in the only box |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/oct/26/worlddispatch.johnaglionby |access-date=5 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='Time to discard policies that divide S'poreans' |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/time-discard-policies-divide-poreans-093909214.html |website=sg.news.yahoo.com|date=12 May 2011 }}</ref><ref name="KongYeoh2003">{{cite book|author1=Lily Kong|author2=Brenda S. A. Yeoh|title=The Politics of Landscapes in Singapore: Constructions of "Nation"|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m3kl4xgKJ6IC|date=1 February 2003|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=978-0-8156-2980-1|page=106}}</ref> In 1998, then PAP secretary-general, [[Goh Chok Tong]] said, "By linking the priority of upgrading to electoral support, we focus the minds of voters on the link between upgrading and the people whose policies make it possible. This has the desired result.".<ref>{{Cite news |date=1998-01-12 |title=Upgrading link swung vote in GE |work=The Straits Times |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/issue/straitstimes19980112-1}}</ref> As recently as 2011 Lee Hsien Loong expressed that there has to be a distinction between opposition wards and the ones that voted for the PAP in terms of housing upgrades.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-04-06 |title= 'PM Lee, I don't get upgrading, so can I pay less tax?' |work=yahoo! News|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/news/blogs/singaporescene/pm-lee-don-t-upgrading-pay-less-tax-20110405-231901-526.html}}</ref> ===Gerrymandering of constituencies === {{anchor | Gerrymandering }} {{see also | Constituencies_of_Singapore#Gerrymandering | l1= Gerrymandering of political constituencies in Singapore }} The boundaries of electoral constituencies in Singapore are decided by the [[Elections Department]], which is under the control of the [[Prime Minister's Office (Singapore)|Prime Minister's Office]].<ref name="Chong2010">{{cite book|author=Terence Chong|title=Management of Success: Singapore Revisited|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tsD11_gqgusC|year=2010|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian|isbn=978-981-4279-85-7|page=106}}</ref> Electoral boundaries are redrawn just a few weeks before the general election, leaving little time for opposition parties to prepare.<ref name="Chong2010" /><ref name="MauzyMilne2002">{{cite book|author1=Diane K. Mauzy|author2=Robert Stephen Milne|title=Singapore Politics Under the People's Action Party|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zx13oYmtg_wC|year=2002|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-415-24653-8|page=143}}</ref> There have been accusations of [[gerrymandering]] via the dissolving and redrawing of marginal constituencies with relatively stronger opposition support, such as [[Cheng San Group Representation Constituency|Cheng San GRC]] and [[Eunos Group Representation Constituency|Eunos GRC]].<ref name="Singh2012">{{cite book|author=Bilveer Singh|title=Politics and Governance in Singapore: An Introduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7cpNpwAACAAJ|year=2012|publisher=McGraw-Hill|isbn=978-0-07-108110-8|page=172}}</ref> The [[Group Representation Constituency]] (GRC) system, which requires teams of candidates (including at least one from a minority group) to contest in larger electoral areas, has also been criticised for making it more difficult for smaller or newer opposition parties to compete effectively. While the government maintains that these changes are made to reflect population shifts and ensure minority representation, the lack of transparency fuels ongoing concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. ===Judicial system and rights=== {{See also|Human rights in Singapore|Law in Singapore}} Although Singapore's laws are largely inherited from [[English common law]] due to its history as a former colony of the [[British Empire]], the PAP government is also critical of fully embracing [[liberal democracy|liberal democratic values]], which it typifies as a "[[Western world|Western]] concept" and claims that there should not be a 'one-size-fits-all' solution to a democracy. For example, laws restricting [[freedom of speech]] exist to prohibit speech that may breed ill will or cause disharmony within Singapore's [[Demographics of Singapore|multiracial]], [[Religion in Singapore|multi-religious]] society. For example, in 2005, three [[blog]]gers were convicted of [[sedition]] for posting [[Racism|racist]] remarks targeting minorities.<ref>{{cite news| title= Third racist blogger sentenced to 24 months supervised probation | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/180127/1/.html | publisher=Channel NewsAsia | date=23 November 2005}}</ref> In 2021, a former [[Ngee Ann Polytechnic]] [[senior lecturer]] was sentenced to five weeks' jail and a $6,000 fine for making racist remarks to an inter-ethnic couple in public.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shiying |first1=Wong |title=Ex-Ngee Ann Poly lecturer gets jail, fine over racist remarks, having obscene films |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ex-ngee-ann-poly-lecturer-sentenced-to-5-weeks-jail-6000-fine-for-making-racist-remarks-having-obscene-films |website=The Straits Times |access-date=17 April 2025 |language=en |date=29 December 2022}}</ref> [[Public demonstrations in Singapore]] are tightly controlled under the Public Order Act, requiring police permits for public gatherings. Even at the designated [[Speakers' Corner, Singapore|Speakers' Corner]], strict rules apply. The government justifies these controls as necessary for maintaining public order and harmony in a multi-ethnic society, but critics argue that the laws severely limit freedom of expression and assembly. In addition, some offences that could be deemed as minor crimes in other countries such as [[vandalism]] can lead to heavy fines or [[Caning in Singapore|corporal punishment]] (caning). In addition, [[capital punishment in Singapore|the death penalty]] for [[murder]] and [[Illegal drug trade|drug trafficking]] remains in force. Critics have also accused the PAP of ruling Singapore like a [[nanny state]], making Singaporeans having a sheltered perspective of the world.
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