The president's election is usually a non-event in the country's relatively mild political landscape, but this year's poll received much more attention because of its unique timing, just three months after the watershed election in May in which the PAP won 60.1% of the votes, its lowest percentage ever, although it still won 81 of the 87 seats in parliament.
Many saw the presidential election as a referendum to confirm support for the PAP government or to check the size of the PAP's core support. Unlike in the past, the PAP government no longer openly endorses any candidate. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, however, singled out Tan as "eminently qualified" and "a very good candidate", and it was widely accepted that Tan was the preferred candidate of the establishment. Tan's victory could therefore cement the position of the PAP as the preferred hand for running the country. Full story
