[Bigiron]

Why political parties should embrace multi-cornered fights 

As GE2025 nears, opposition parties are negotiating to avoid three-cornered fights. But history shows strong opposition parties shouldn’t fear them—voters consolidate behind credible candidates. Instead of horse-trading with weak parties, WP, PSP, and SDP should just compete and let voters decide.

https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/03...ed-fights/

[Bigiron]

Why Political Parties Should Embrace Multi-Cornered Fights
 
Source: The Online Citizen, March 12, 2025
 
Author: Not specified
 
Article Summary:
 
Theme: This article argues that strong opposition political parties in Singapore should embrace multi-cornered fights instead of negotiating to avoid them.
 
Core Points:
 
- The author argues that strong opposition parties like the Workers’ Party (WP), Progress Singapore Party (PSP), and Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) should not engage in horse-trading with weaker parties, as this only benefits the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
 
- Historical examples show that strong opposition candidates have prevailed in multi-cornered contests, with voters consolidating behind credible alternatives to the PAP.
 
- The author critiques weaker parties like the People’s Power Party (PPP) and National Solidarity Party (NSP) for using seat claims as bargaining chips, potentially disrupting opposition progress.
 
- The author notes that the recent Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report may have deliberately created conflict between opposition parties by redrawing constituencies in a way that favors the PAP.
 
- The author ultimately concludes that strong opposition parties should not fear multi-cornered fights, as they provide opportunities to expose weak contenders and build credibility.
 
Phenomenon:
 
The article analyzes the phenomenon of opposition parties negotiating to avoid multi-cornered fights in the upcoming General Election 2025 (GE2025) in Singapore. It uses historical examples, specifically the 1963 Legislative Assembly Election and the 2013 Punggol East by-election, to illustrate the success of strong opposition candidates even in contests with multiple opponents.
 
Key Takeaway:
 
The author’s central argument is that voters are capable of discerning between strong and weak opposition candidates, and that strong parties should focus on competing based on their merits rather than seeking to eliminate competition through negotiations.