SINGAPORE – From an eventful general election that saw the PAP returned to power with a higher vote share, to the
conclusion of a high-profile court case involving Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh
, 2025 was a standout year for Singapore politics.
With tectonic shifts in the world of work and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, all eyes are on the Government’s plans to refresh Singapore’s longer-term economic strategy, while meeting Singaporeans’ bread-and-butter concerns over jobs, housing and cost of living.
Here is what to expect in the political space in 2026, and a round-up of the biggest news in 2025.
The five committees reviewing the country’s economic strategy are expected to begin making policy recommendations soon, with the Government’s annual Budget season around the corner in February.
Chaired by the newer political office-holders,
the Economic Strategy Review (ESR) committees were formed in August
to ensure that the city-state stays globally competitive in the long run, and to secure good opportunities for its businesses and workers.
Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce
chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.
The committees’ review covers five areas: global competitiveness; technology and innovation; entrepreneurship; human capital; and managing the impact of restructuring.
In November, Acting Transport Minister and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow said the five committees will release a mid-term update in tandem with Budget 2026, so that early proposals can be discussed and funding secured for them.
For instance, the Republic must find ways to capture investment flows in artificial intelligence to power its economic growth over the next decade, said Mr Siow, who co-chairs the committee on global competitiveness.
The ESR will issue a final report with its recommendations by mid-2026.
Expect Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s Budget statement, which will be delivered on Feb 12, to further flesh out Singapore’s economic repositioning plans, including ways to help Singaporeans cope with rapid technological disruption.
WP chief Pritam Singh was convicted of lying to a parliamentary committee.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Parliament’s first sitting on Jan 12 will see the House
discuss the actions of Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh
, who was convicted of lying to a parliamentary committee.
The case arose after then WP MP Raeesah Khan was investigated for lying in Parliament in August 2021. Following a 13-day trial in 2024, Mr Singh was found guilty of two charges and fined $14,000 in February.
The conviction was upheld in the High Court on appeal, with Justice Steven Chong saying in December that Mr Singh’s actions showed he would have “let sleeping dogs lie” if the matter was already buried.
Leader of the House Indranee Rajah said on Dec 17 that the courts’ findings meant it was necessary for Parliament to deliberate on an appropriate response to Mr Singh’s actions and convictions.
Noting that lying under oath is a serious matter, Ms Indranee said Singapore cannot accept a standard whereby leaders who have broken the law escape legal or political consequences.
While it is unclear what the consequences will be, they could range from a formal censure to removal of Mr Singh from his position as Leader of the Opposition.
In a subsequent statement, Ms Indranee said the court judgments in Mr Singh’s case also have implications for WP chair Sylvia Lim and vice-chair Faisal Manap, and that this will also be discussed when Parliament reconvenes.
On Dec 28, the WP said some of its cadres
had requested a special meeting to be held by its top decision-making body
on Mr Singh’s conviction. The party had earlier said that it had initiated “internal processes” following the High Court judgment.
With the general election in the rear view, Singaporeans will be looking at how the Government intends to deliver on its election promises, using the Budget and other levers in its fiscal and policy toolbox.
For instance, while inflation has come down and support schemes such as CDC and utilities vouchers have alleviated cost pressures, the cost of living remains a perennial source of anxiety for many people.
