This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
As Singapore emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is set to hold elections, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announcing that he has advised the president to dissolve parliament for a general election.
The election, which must be held by April next year, is expected to take place in July, with voters required to wear masks and gloves at polling stations.
Despite the ongoing virus outbreak, the People's Action Party (PAP), which has ruled Singapore since 1959, is assured of victory, holding 82 of 88 elected seats in parliament.
However, the timing of the election has been criticized by opposition groups, who argue that it will 'needlessly jeopardise the safety and health of Singaporeans.'
The PAP has been accused of not doing enough to protect migrant workers, who have been disproportionately affected by the virus outbreak, with over 42,000 cases reported in the city-state.
With the government insisting that it has successfully tackled the virus, the polls are also part of a carefully orchestrated transfer of power to a new generation of leaders.
