List of political parties in Singapore
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This is a list of political parties in Singapore, including existing and historical ones. The earliest political parties were either branches of parent parties in Malaya, or were established in the lead-up to Singapore first Legislative Council elections in 1948. Amongst the oldest parties, the Malay Union, traced its history back to 14 May 1926, but it was initially a non-political association, participating in elections only in 1955. The Progressive Party and Labour Party, both established in the late 1940s, were some of the pioneering local establishments, with the PP the only party to contest in the first elections in 1948, and the LP coming on board in 1951. By 1955, the fledging British colony had seven parties contesting, and reached a pinnacle of 13 parties in 1959. A total of three parties were established in the 1940s, 12 in the 1950s and five in the 1960s.
In post-independence Singapore, the dominance of the People's Action Party, which first came into power in 1959, somewhat cooled the flurry of political activism. On 16 May 1960, a new Societies Ordinance was passed, and in December 1966, local parties were forbidden from being affiliated to foreign ones. This directly impacting the handful of small Malaysia-linked parties, most of which renamed themselves and/or cut formal foreign ties. The PAP's dominance and Singapore's economic advancement further weakened the smaller opposition parties, and as of today, ten parties have officially dissolved, mostly through mergers with other parities.
Still, new parties continued to be established. Seven new parties were formed in the 1970s (including the Justice Party, Singapore and the United Front, the preprocessor of today's Democratic Progressive Party), two in the 1980s (the Singapore Democratic Party and the National Solidarity Party (NSP)), two in the 1990s (the Singapore National Front and the Singapore People's Party (SPP)), three in the 2000s, and as of now, two in the 2010s. The newest party, the Socialist Front was established on 1 September 2010. There are therefore a total of 28 registered political parties today, of which eight have never contested in an election.
Over the years, alliances between political parties existed, but most did not last long. There are at present only one functioning multi-party alliance, the Singapore Democratic Alliance, which was formed on 3 July 2001, initially composed of the SPP, NSP, Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura and the Justice Party, Singapore, with the SPP the lead party. The vision was to bring all opposition parties under one banner to counter the PAP's dominance, but it was met with limited success. The NSP left the alliance in 2007, and in 2010, the SPP itself left when there was internal disagreements over the SPP's attempts to bring in the newly formed Reform Party.
Legislation
Under the current legislation, all political parties (termed "Political Associations") must be registered under the Societies Act. As such, the following rules pertaining to political associations apply:
- All members of political parties must be Singaporean citizens.
- Political Association must not be affiliated or connected with any organisation outside Singapore. The fact that a political association uses a name or symbol which is the same as that of an organisation outside Singapore shall be deemed to be sufficient evidence that the political association has an affiliation or connection with that organisation.
The government has the power to dissolve the party if it contravenes the above rules, or any other rule applicable to all forms of registered societies.
Under the Political Donations Act which came into force on 15 February 2001, Political Associations are also barred from accepting any donation in cash or kind from impermissible donors, or from anonymous donors where the value exceeds S$5,000. The government announced[1] that it was to "prevent foreigners from interfering in domestic politics through the financial support for any association's cause", and cited an example of a case in 1959 when S$700,000 was sent to Chew Swee Kee, then Education Minister from the Singapore People's Alliance by a "neighbouring intelligence service in a "black operation" against the interests of Singapore". Another case was also cited pertaining to foreign financial support for Francis Seow of the Workers' Party in 1988. Critics noted that the Singapore government itself was responsible for giving $20,00 to Australian political parties through (Singtel-owned) Optus,[2] although the motives and details of the donation remain unverified.
Last parliamentary election results
Parties and alliances | Leader | Contested seats | Divs won | Seats won | Popular vote | % of valid votes | +/- | % of valid votes in wards contested by party | +/- | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMC | GRC | Divs | Total | |||||||||||||
4m | 5m | 6m | ||||||||||||||
![]() |
Lee Hsien Loong | 13 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 29 | 89 | 27 | 83 | 1,576,784 | 69.86 | ![]() |
69.86 | ![]() | ||
![]() |
Low Thia Khiang | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 28 | 2 | 6 | 281,697 | 12.48 | ![]() |
39.75 | ![]() | ||
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Chee Soon Juan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 84,770 | 3.76 | ![]() |
31.23 | ![]() | ||
![]() |
Sebastian Teo | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 79,780 | 3.53 | ![]() |
25.27 | ![]() | ||
![]() |
Kenneth Jeyaretnam | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 59,432 | 2.63 | ![]() |
20.60 | ![]() | ||
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Tan Jee Say | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 50,791 | 2.25 | New | 21.49 | New | ||
![]() |
Lina Chiam | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 49,015 | 2.17 | ![]() |
27.08 | ![]() | ||
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Desmond Lim | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 46,508 | 2.06 | ![]() |
27.11 | ![]() | ||
People's Power Party | Goh Meng Seng | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25,460 | 1.13 | New | 23.11 | New | ||
![]() ![]() |
N/A | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2,779 | 0.12 | N/A | 10.10 | N/A | ||
Valid votes | 29 | 89 | 2,257,016 | 97.95% of total votes cast | ||||||||||||
Invalid (e.g. blank or spoilt) votes | 47,315 | 2.05% of total votes cast | ||||||||||||||
Total votes cast | 2,304,331 | Voter turnout: 93.56% of eligible voters | ||||||||||||||
Did not vote | 158,595 | |||||||||||||||
Eligible voters (excluding walkover voters) | 2,462,926 | |||||||||||||||
Walkover voters | 0 | |||||||||||||||
Electorate | 2,462,926 | |||||||||||||||
Political parties
Party | Other/ Previous name(s) | Established | Registered | Dissolved | Years contested | Accumulative votes | Average votes | URL | Facebook URL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Singapore Alliance Party 新加坡联盟党 Parti Perikatan Singapura | Singapore Alliance or Perikatan Singapura (1963–1965) | 30 May 1963 | 17 February 1966 | NA | 1963 | 48,967 | 48,967 | ||
Angkatan Islam Islamic Movement 回教阵线 | Pan-Malayan Islamic Party or Persatuan Islam Setanah Melayu (1958–1967) | - | 6 August 1958 | NA | 1959, 1963, 1984, 1988 | 3,195 | 799 | ||
Barisan Sosialis Socialist Front 社会主义阵线 | - | 29 July 1961 | 13 August 1961 | 1988 | 1963, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984 | 293,895 | 58,779 | ||
Citizens' Party 公民党 Parti Warganegara | - | 25 February 1959 | - | 13 September 1960 | 1959 | 3,210 | 3,210 | ||
Democratic Party 民主党 Parti Demokratik | - | 11 February 1955 | - | 5 February 1956 | 1955 | 32,115 | 32,115 | ||
![]() 民主进步党 Parti Demokratik Progresif | United Front (1973–1982) Singapore United Front (1982–1991) | - | 16 March 1973 | NA | 1976, 1980, 1984, 1997, 2001, 2015 (with SPP) | 178,509 | 35,702 | ||
Justice Party 新加坡正义党 Parti Keadilan Singapura | Singapore Justice Party (Used in GE of 1976, 1980) | - | 10 August 1972 | NA | 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1991 (2001, 2006, 2011, 2015 with SDA) | 51,258 | 10,252 | ||
Katong United Residents' Association 加东居民统一工会 Persatuan Penduduk Bersatu Katong | - | 11 January 1959 | - | 23 June 1960 | 1959 | 1,759 | 1,759 | ||
Labour Front 劳工阵线 Barisan Buroh | - | 21 August 1954 | - | 28 February 1960 | 1955, 1959 | 45,714 | 22,857 | ||
Labour Party 劳工党 Parti Buroh | - | 23 March 1948 | - | 1961 | 1951 | 7,335 | 7,335 | ||
Liberal Socialist Party 自由社会党 Parti Liberal Sosialis | - | 5 February 1956 | 24 May 1961 | 10 September 1963 | 1959 | 42,805 | 42,805 | ||
National Party of Singapore 新加坡国民党 Parti Nasional Singapura | - | - | 26 February 1971 | NA | Never contested | NA | NA | ||
![]() 国民团结党 Parti Perpaduan Nasional | - | - | 6 March 1987 | NA | 1988, 1991, 1997 (2001, 2006 with SDA), 2011, 2015 | 156,060 | 99,607 | ||
Partai Rakyat People's Party (Singapore State Division) 人民党 (新加坡州部) | - | 11 November 1955 | 18 June 1962 | NA | 1959, 1963 | 10,265 | 5,133 | ||
Parti Kesatuan Ra'ayat United Democratic Party 民主统一党 | - | - | 18 June 1962 | NA | 1963 | 760 | 760 | ||
![]() 人民行动党 Parti Tindakan Rakyat | - | 21 November 1954 | 18 February 1961 | NA | 1955, 1959, 1963, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1991, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2015 | 5,822,335 | 502354 | ||
People's Front 人民阵线 Barisan Rakyat | - | - | 21 May 1971 | NA | 1972, 1976 | 25,280 | 12,640 | ||
People's Liberal Democratic Party 人民自由民主党 Parti Liberal Demokratik Rakyat | - | - | 2 May 2006 | NA | Never contested | NA | NA | ||
People's Power Party 人民力量党 Parti Kuasa Rakyat | - | - | 15 May 2015 | NA | 2015 | NA | NA | ||
People's Republican Party 人民共和党 Parti Rakyat Republik | - | - | 30 August 1973 | NA | Never contested | NA | NA | ||
Persatuan Melayu Singapura Singapore Malays Association 新加坡马来人协会 | - | - | 2 February 1952 | NA | Never contested | NA | NA | ||
Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura Singapore Malay National Organisation 新加坡马来国民机构 | Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu or United Malays National Organisation (1951–1967) | 23 December 1951 | 20 February 1961 | NA | 1955, 1959, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1991 (2001, 2006, 2011, 2015 with SDA) | 97,044 | 12,131 | ||
Progressive Party 进步党 Parti Progresif | - | 25 August 1947 | - | 10 May 1956 | 1948, 1951, 1955 | 61,651 | 20,550 | ||
![]() 革新党 Parti Reformasi | - | - | 3 July 2008 | NA | 2011, 2015 | 86,294 | 86,294 | ||
Singapore Chinese Party 新加坡华人党 Parti Cina Singapura | Malayan Chinese Association (1950–1967) | - | 26 September 1950 | NA | 1955, 1959 (1972 under UNF) | 11,796 | 5,898 | ||
Singapore Congress 新加坡国民大会党 Kongres Singapura | - | 9 May 1960 | - | 29 January 1962 | 1961 (By) | ||||
![]() 新加坡民主联盟 Perikatan Demokratik Singapura | - | - | 3 July 2001 | NA | 2001, 2006, 2011, 2015 | 276,808 | 92,269 | ||
![]() 新加坡民主党 Parti Demokratik Singapura | - | 6 August 1980 | 8 September 1980 | NA | 1980, 1984, 1988, 1991, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2015 | 468,264 | 70,688 | ||
Singapore Indian Congress 新加坡印度国民大会党 Kongres India Singapura | Singapore Regional Indian Congress (1946–1953) Malayan Indian Congress (1953–1968) | Aug 1946 | 7 August 1962 | NA | 1959 | 2,092 | 2,092 | ||
Malay Union 新加坡马来人联合会 Kesatuan Melayu Singapura | - | 14 May 1926 | - | 1961 | 1955, 1957 (By-election), 1959 | 4,052 | 2,026 | ||
Singapore National Front 新加坡国民阵线 Barisan Nasional Singapura | - | - | 15 August 1991 | NA | Never contested | NA | NA | ||
Singapore People's Alliance 新加坡人民联盟 Perikatan Rakyat Singapura | - | 10 November 1958 | - | 16 May 1965 | 1959 | 107,755 | 107,755 | ||
![]() 新加坡人民党 Parti Rakyat Singapura | - | - | 21 November 1994 | NA | 1997 (2001, 2006 with SDA), 2011, 2015 | 16,746 | 39,625 | ||
![]() 国人为先 Warga Diutamakan | - | 25 May 2014 | 19 August 2014 | NA | 2015 | NA | NA | ||
![]() 社会主义阵线 Barisan Sosialis | - | - | 1 September 2010 | NA | Never contested | NA | NA | ||
United National Front 联合国民阵线 Barisan Nasional Bersatu | - | - | 6 March 1970 | NA | 1972 | 55,001 | 55,001 | ||
United People's Front 人民联合阵线 Barisan Rakyat Bersatu | - | - | 20 March 1975 | NA | 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988 | 87,318 | 21,830 | ||
United People's Party 人民统一党 Parti Ra'ayat Bersatu | - | - | 14 July 1961 | 1968 | 1963 | 48,785 | 48,785 | ||
United Singapore Democrats 统一新加坡民主党 Demokrat Singapura Bersatu | - | - | 25 March 2010 | NA | Never contested | NA | NA | ||
![]() 工人党 Parti Pekerja | - | 3 November 1957 | 30 January 1961 | NA | 1959, 1963, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1991, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2015 | 1,239,577 | 95,352 |
Other defunct parties
- Malayan Communist Party
- Malayan Democratic Union (dissolved in 1948)
- Singapore Socialist Party (merged to form Labour Front)
Shirt colours
The candidates and supporters of the various political parties tend to wear the following shirt colours while making their rounds in various wards or campaigning.
See also
- Politics of Singapore
- List of political parties by country
- Non-constituency Member of Parliament
- Constituencies of Singapore
References
- ↑ http://www.mha.gov.sg/basic_content.aspx?pageid=66
- ↑ http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/02/01/mayne-sifting-through-the-political-donations-data/
- ↑ 2015 Parliamentary Election Results, Elections Department, 14 September 2015, archived from the original on 14 September 2015; "GE2015: Live Results", The Straits Times, 12 September 2015, retrieved 14 September 2015.