As countries continue to postpone polls following the Coronavirus outbreak, the possibility of a General Election in Singapore does not seem to be off the table. Discussions surrounding a delay and a possible caretaker government have been shut down by the Senior Minister, Teo Chee Hean, who described the idea as unconstitutional.
Addressing members of the country’s parliament on Wednesday, Tee Chee Hean, who also serves as the country’s Coordinating Minister for National Security, stated that suggestions that the elections be delayed because of the virus and a caretaker government instituted in the meantime were “misleading and unhelpful.” as they are not part of the constitution. He also added that for elections to be put off beyond the required date, a state of emergency would have to be declared and even with that in place, a caretaker government remains impossible.
“It is not helpful to mislead people into thinking that such an option exists – to put off elections indefinitely and for the president to form a new government – when this goes against the Constitution,” he said.
Acknowledging the current global health crisis caused by the Coronavirus and how it continues to affect Singapore, Tee Chan Hean said: “Ideally, we would like to conduct elections in normal conditions. The present situation is not ideal for holding an election, but that does not mean it makes an election impossible.” He went on to add that while the situation seems dire, the Halimah Yacob-led government remains committed to making decisions that are of the best interest of Singapore and Singaporeans.
Going on to reveal plans that will be set in motion to ensure the safety of the people of Singapore throughout the electoral process, the Minister said: “For campaigning, we can have live streaming of speeches on the Internet and adequate TV time for candidates. And for voting, we already have special express lanes for seniors and those who need them. We can also have social distancing while queuing, proper hand hygiene for voting paraphernalia and hand sanitizers for voters.”
“We will learn from the experiences of other countries that are holding elections even during this ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. All these measures and precautions are required to protect Singaporeans. Whatever measures taken will affect all political parties equally,” he added.
