Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam dissolved Parliament on Tuesday, officially starting the process for the country’s next general election, according to local media reports.

The move came on the advice of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who will lead the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) into the upcoming election — the first under his leadership since taking over from Lee Hsien Loong.

A Writ of Election is expected to be issued shortly, which will detail the nomination and polling dates. The exact date of the vote will be announced by the Returning Officer in the coming days.

This will mark Singapore’s 14th general election since gaining independence. It comes at a time of rising domestic challenges and global economic uncertainty, including ongoing trade tensions driven by US President Donald Trump’s imposition of steep tariffs on several nations, including key allies.

Prime Minister Wong recently voiced his disapproval of the US policy shift, calling it “very disappointing,” especially in light of the strong historical ties between Singapore and the United States.

In the last general election in 2020, the People’s Action Party retained its supermajority by winning 83 of 93 parliamentary seats. However, the opposition made significant gains, increasing their presence to a record ten seats, and PAP’s vote share fell to 61 percent — one of the lowest in its history.

Despite overseeing Singapore’s rise as a global economic hub, the PAP has faced increasing criticism over high living costs, income inequality, and limited political freedoms. Public dissatisfaction has also grown over housing affordability, immigration-related overcrowding, and restrictions on civil liberties.

The coming election is expected to test the ruling party’s grip on power as voters weigh the nation’s economic progress against calls for greater political openness and social reform.