The country’s elections must be held before August 2021.
Singaporean authorities warned political parties about the threat of foreign interference, including cyberattacks, in the run-up to the general parliamentary elections. The statement was issued jointly on Monday by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Cyber Security Agency and the Electoral Commission.
The statement stressed that political parties “should be aware of the degree of threat of foreign interference” and strengthen protection of their computer infrastructure, “their Internet accounts, social networks. In addition, it stresses that political forces are responsible “for the emergence of suspicious activity on their platforms”.
“Singapore is not immune from such activities in preparation for the general elections, which are due to be held before August 2021”, – the statement said.
Prior to the pandemic, experts predicted that voting would take place during the current year. The election will be the most important in nearly 20 years, as a “fourth” generation of leaders is expected to come to power. Current Prime Minister Li Xiang Moon has repeatedly stated that he will resign by 2022 at the latest. In late 2018, his successor, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keith, was appointed.
This transfer of power was initiated by the founder of modern Singapore, its first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, who held office for over 30 years. Before he left the Cabinet, the next Head of Government, Goh Chok Tong, was appointed, who in turn resigned early in 2004, releasing Lee Xiang Moon, the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew.
The head of government in Singapore becomes a representative of the party that won the most votes in the general elections. In the last election in 2015, the ruling People’s Action Party won a convincing victory.