SINGAPORE: parliamentary elections Parliament, 1997

SINGAPORE
Parliamentary Chamber: Parliament

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1997

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Chamber:

Parliament

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

2 January 1997

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for 83 seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.

Background and outcome of elections:

On nomination day, 23 December 1996, the People's Action Party (PAP) was returned to power, as 47 seats (out of 83) were uncontested. The opposition parties, with four seats in the outgoing legislature, fielded 36 candidates. Polling day was declared to be on 2nd January 1997, and in the nine-day campaign, both the PAP and the opposition candidates took the opportunity to convey their messages to the electorate through flyers, pamphlets, house-to-house visits and rallies. The PAP message was to vote wisely, and support the programmes put up by the PAP which include upgrading for the housing estates. The main thrust of the opposition candidates' messages was to provide an alternative voice in Parliament. In the result, the electorate returned 81 PAP candidates to Parliament - the PAP recapturing two opposition-held seats. On 18 January, the Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong announced a limited Cabinet Reshuffle.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (2 January 1997): Elections results

Number of registered electors 1,881,011

Voters 765,332 (40.69 %)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 48,587

Valid votes 716,745

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Votes %

People's Action Party (PAP) 465,751 63.45

Workers' Party (WPS) 101,544 36.75

Singapore People's Party (SPP) 16,746 26.69

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) 76,129 32.25

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total Gain/Loss

People's Action Party (PAP) 81 +2

Workers' Party (WPS) 1 =

Singapore People's Party (SPP) 1 +1

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) 0 -3

Comments:

Directly elected members, excluding the non-constituency member.
Two seats added since last elections

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 80

Women: 4

Percent of women: 4.30

Distribution of seats according to age:

31-40 years 16

41-50 years 44

51-60 years 20

61-70 years 3

Over 70 years 1

Distribution of seats according to profession:

Businessmen 30

University professors and lecturers 12

Lawyers 9

Trade Unionists 9

Politicians 9

Journalists 6

Doctors 2

Architects 2

Others 5

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for SINGAPORE <<<

Chamber:
	Parliament
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	2 January 1997
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for 83 seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	On nomination day, 23 December 1996, the People's Action Party (PAP) was returned to power, as 47 seats (out of 83) were uncontested. The opposition parties, with four seats in the outgoing legislature, fielded 36 candidates. Polling day was declared to be on 2nd January 1997, and in the nine-day campaign, both the PAP and the opposition candidates took the opportunity to convey their messages to the electorate through flyers, pamphlets, house-to-house visits and rallies. The PAP message was to vote wisely, and support the programmes put up by the PAP which include upgrading for the housing estates. The main thrust of the opposition candidates' messages was to provide an alternative voice in Parliament. In the result, the electorate returned 81 PAP candidates to Parliament - the PAP recapturing two opposition-held seats. On 18 January, the Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong announced a limited Cabinet Reshuffle.

Round no 1 (2 January 1997): Elections results
Number of registered electors	1,881,011
Voters	765,332 (40.69 %)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	48,587
Valid votes	716,745

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
People's Action Party (PAP)	465,751	63.45
Workers' Party (WPS)	101,544	36.75
Singapore People's Party (SPP)	16,746	26.69
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)	76,129	32.25

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Gain/Loss
People's Action Party (PAP)	81	+2
Workers' Party (WPS)	1	=
Singapore People's Party (SPP)	1	+1
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)	0	-3

Comments:
	Directly elected members, excluding the non-constituency member. Two seats added since last elections

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	80
Women:	4
Percent of women:	4.30

Distribution of seats according to age:
31-40 years	16
41-50 years	44
51-60 years	20
61-70 years	3
Over 70 years	1
Distribution of seats according to profession:
Businessmen	30
University professors and lecturers	12
Lawyers	9
Trade Unionists	9
Politicians	9
Journalists	6
Doctors	2
Architects	2
Others	5