Barely a day after his National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called for a lightning election in September to capitalize on the slew of generous election carrots introduced two days ago. According to the President Tony Tan, he has acted according to the advice by the Prime Minister, to dissolve the Parliament and call for an elections. The Parliament is therefore dissolved today (August 25), and the Writ of Election is issued specifying that September 1st will be Nomination Day while September 11th will be Polling Day.
Photo of Lee Hsien Loong from Facebook
Over on Facebook right after the announcement, PM Lee Hsien Loong also took the opportunity to campaign and appeal for Singaporeans to give his ruling party government the mandate again, saying:
“This morning I advised the President to dissolve Parliament and issue the Writ of Election. Nomination Day will be Tuesday, 1 September, and Polling Day Friday, 11 September.
I called this general election to seek your mandate to take Singapore beyond SG50, into its next half century. You will be deciding who will govern Singapore for the next 5 years. More than that, you will be choosing the team to work with you for the next 15-20 years, and setting the direction for Singapore for the next 50 years.
What we have achieved together in Singapore is special. Here many races live in peace, and many from humble homes make good. We will surely meet challenges ahead, but whatever the world throws at us, as one people, we will overcome.
If you are proud of what we have achieved together, and support what we want to do for our future, please support me and my team. We have to do it with you, in order to do it for you, and for Singapore.
Together, we can keep Singapore special for many years to come.”
The ruling party PAP government is poised to lose more votes as the effects of their national policies have been largely disastrous, with specific emphasis on immigration, public transport and retirement. In response to these failures, the PAP government has pledged the highest amount of tax dollars in wage increase, GST credits, HDB subsidies, Baby Bonus and a lot more election carrots to salvage support from Singaporeans.
Photo by channelnewsasia
Photo of electoral map from thestraitstimes
Below is the list of Nomination places:
List of Nomination places by Electoral Department
List of Nomination places by Electoral Department