Object size: 59.5 x 42.0 cm
This poster shows the Workers’ Party (WP) candidate for Punggol West SMC, as well as the party’s hammer logo with a cross in front of it signifying a vote for the party. It was part of the WP campaign materials from the 2020 General Elections, or GE2020. This was Singapore’s 13th General Election, held on 10 July 2020, during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The GE2020 WP manifesto was titled “Make Your Vote Count” and stated 4 main prongs of the party’s vision for Singapore: “Achieving our dreams”, “Good jobs and dynamic workers”, “A home for all” and “A resilient democracy”. During this election, for only the second time in Singapore’s history, all seats were contested. The Workers’ Party had its best ever showing during this election, winning Aljunied and Sengkang GRCs and Hougang SMC, thus clinching 10 parliamentary seats. The remaining 83 parliamentary seats were won by the PAP. As the next best performing party, the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) took up the two available NCMP positions. After GE2020, a new formalised position of Leader of the Opposition was created in recognition of the strong public desire for diversity in Parliament, with WP Secretary-General Pritam Singh becoming the first Leader of the Opposition. The role of the Leader of the Opposition is to lead the opposition in Parliamentary business such as presenting alternative views, scrutinising the government’s positions and actions in Parliament, and nominating opposition members for appointment to Select Committees. The Leader of the Opposition is given an office in Parliament with staff support and resources, as well as the right of first response among MPs to ask the lead question of Ministers on matters in Parliament. By convention, the Leader of the Opposition typically takes the seat directly opposite the Prime Minister during Parliament sittings.
