• Singapore's parliament was dissolved on April 15 ahead of the general election on May 3.
• The election will serve as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's first electoral test since taking office.
• Voters will elect 97 lawmakers from various electoral divisions, marking a significant political event.
• The ruling People's Action Party has historically dominated elections since 1965 but faces increased opposition.
• Economic concerns, particularly US tariffs, are influencing the electoral landscape as Singapore copes with inflation.

Singapore's parliament was officially dissolved on April 15, paving the way for the country's 14th general election, scheduled for May 3. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who ascended from the long-serving Lee Hsien Loong in May 2024, will face his first electoral challenge during this election cycle, which is expected to attract significant public attention due to recent political shifts, according to The Jakarta Post.

The upcoming election will see voters casting ballots for 97 lawmakers across 15 single-member electoral divisions and 18 larger multi-member constituencies. This election will be significant as it follows the ruling People's Action Party's (PAP) disappointing performance in the previous election of 2020, where they secured just 61.23% of the popular vote. The PAP has dominated every electoral contest since 1965, yet the stakes are higher this year with increased opposition representation in parliament, reports Reuters.

Wong's administration is gearing up to tackle pressing issues such as the rising cost of living, housing requirements, and job stability in a trade-reliant economy now grappling with the consequences of US President Donald Trump's tariffs. These tariffs have caused Singapore to revise its GDP growth forecast for 2025 downward from 1-3% to a narrower range of 0-2%. Wong has publicly criticized these tariffs as detrimental to Singapore's economic landscape, asserting that "what the US is doing now is not reform," according to a report from TRT Global.

The election will feature a minimum nine-day campaigning period, followed by a "cooling off day" before the polls. As voters prepare, Wong's government has been proactive in addressing economic concerns, unveiling a budget filled with tax rebates and financial incentives designed to prepare the electorate ahead of the vote, which some analysts have termed a "feel-good" strategy, according to insights from South China Morning Post.

This election is critical for the PAP as it seeks to recover from its previous losses and fortify its position in Singaporean politics. Historical trends indicate that while the PAP is likely to retain a significant number of seats, the growing desire for a stronger opposition poses a substantial challenge. The last election marked an unprecedented victory for the opposition, with the Workers' Party winning 10 seats in a changing political landscape, according to BBC.