SINGAPORE – The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) is gearing up for a heated leadership election on March 20, with a staggering 24 candidates vying for 12 spots on its central executive committee (CEC). This election is critically poised as the party looks toward the upcoming General Election in 2025.

The current CEC, which emerged in 2023, is composed of notable figures like Hazel Poa, the party's secretary-general, and former chief Leong Mun Wai, alongside the party chairman Tan Cheng Bock. Surprisingly, the assistant secretary-general Ang Yong Guan has announced that he will not seek re-election after a tumultuous period marked by a three-year suspension of his medical license.

Among the candidates, experts predict that the competition for the position of secretary-general will largely boil down to Ms. Poa and Mr. Leong, with many in the party envisioning Mr. Leong's triumphant return to leadership after his previous resignation amidst controversy surrounding Singapore's fake news laws. Political analyst Eugene Tan from Singapore Management University underscores the significance of this election: "With the original leaders from five years ago fading from the limelight, the spotlight now shines bright on Mr. Leong and Ms. Poa."

After the election, the newly elected CEC will select two additional members to form a robust 14-member body, determining key leadership roles moving forward. With the weight of leadership on the line, members of the inner circle are being scrutinized closely.

The party's shifts in leadership have drawn attention; it's noteworthy that if Mr. Leong successfully retakes his previous role, it would mark the fifth leadership change since the PSP's inception in 2019. As the opposition party prepares for a challenging election landscape, retaining its status as a prominent opposition force in Singapore is paramount. Observers warn that the PSP must maintain at least two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats in the upcoming elections to ensure its political relevance.

The upcoming General Election is anticipated to be particularly dynamic, as the PSP is expected to contest redrawn constituencies, such as the West Coast-Jurong West GRC and Chua Chu Kang GRC. "The PSP has successfully maintained visibility due to the efforts of its two NCMPs, but frequent leadership changes indicate a struggle for stability,” notes Dr. Gillian Koh, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies.

There’s also speculation around Dr. Tan's potential last electoral foray; at 85 years old, he represents both wisdom and legacy but also a challenge, as the party seeks to forge its distinct identity beyond his notable influence. Will the PSP successfully step out from Dr. Tan’s shadow and establish itself as a formidable political entity moving forward? The answers are just around the corner as the elections approach.

As members prepare for the vote, the stakes are higher than ever; the road to GE2025 is not only a test of electoral strategy but also a pivotal moment for the PSP's evolution as a leading voice for Singaporeans who seek alternative political representation.