Singapore is a democracy. The policy is very authoritarian, of course, but every four years, the people and parties have divergent power to speak. After it's too late, must await the next elections to be held in ... four years. And yes there is a kind of elections in Singapore, the parliamentary elections. Parliament is elected president, as the United States in some ways.
Voting is compulsory, abstention results in cancellation of voter lists. The voter may however be reinstated if his failure is justified or if he pays a fine. This
May 5, 2006, before the election, I was there. We felt a tension in the weeks progress. The opposition parties in the People's Action Party, the Papacy Singapore so to speak, began to organize for political campaigning. Ordinarily prohibited on the public, politicians have done their duty. Some are even too busy to renew facts malls in some neighborhoods, from shaking hands with citizens a little too early in the campaign to taste police.
But if the PAP does everything possible to limit the adverse political actions (even bring lawsuits against them), it is clear that finally leaving the field open for meetings, or more commonly called rally.
My greed pushes me to attend a rally. And as it is quite exceptional to hear the opposition, I am naturally interested in the recent rally. A member of the administration of my university told me to go to one the Worker's Party, one of two opposition parties vying to snatch a tentacle octopus. Jokingly, this person added, looking up "oops, no camera? Haha!" A French student immersed in psychosis advises me to attend, then having a tourist visa. In short, the tension is palpable, democracy seems to have its limits in Singapore and it does not look good to appear against the ruling party since independence.
I took the subway, after a few glasses of apple juice (to accompany the vodka is too expensive) neighbors, and I went to the stage indicated.
The stadium was packed. Applause, cheers and flags sparkled, the stage was vibrating more than during a World Cup match in Singapore unlikely. The speech was mostly Chinese, though some were in English. Arguments, and the symbol of a yellow hammer on a red flag impart color. Without being revolutionary, the party is challenging a lot of Singaporean politics. Singaporeans loosen up, express their frustrations in a city resembling more and more in Big Brother.
On my return in the subway, I was troubled. At the sight of a stadium full of people protesting, we were on the verge of unprecedented change on the island? The polls do not provide.
Indeed, the next evening, after counting the ballots on their side and emptied a few glasses of mine, the results were quite astonishing in their immutability: PAP retained its 82 seats, and the WP and the Singapore Democratic Alliance, which retain their respective single seat. But where four years ago the PAP won seats in more than 75%, he does earn more than 65%. Especially the youth, who also did not cure the political challenges that are emerging. Singapore, a golden prison, where some Europeans that we are bringing back an element of escape by our presence in their eyes.
To go further:
policy by Singaporean wikipedia
Disneyland With The Death PENALITY (well the source!)
Blog on elections, political ideas
Blog on elections, media and links
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