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New Parliament Tests Singapore's Appetite for Opposition Politics

VOA News

   The latest session of Singapore's Parliament openedin Augustwith
   something it's never seen before: thenewly createdrole of Leader of the
   Opposition.

   Pritam Singh, of the Workers' Party, took thepositionfollowing
   anelection that political analysts say signaled dissatisfaction with a
   system long dominated by a single party.

   The July general electiongavethe Workers' Party four more seats for a
   total of 10 in Parliament, compared to83for the ruling
   People'sActionParty. The Progress Singapore Partytooktwo seats.

   While Singapore has an open society, it has been run by a single party
   since independence fromBritain. Voters have expressed a desire for
   political pluralism before, but political analysts say there are signs
   that this time may be different.

   Dennis Tan, Singh's fellow party member in Parliament, last week said
   voters "embraced the need for a diversity of viewpoints," in addition
   to the views of the People's Action Party, which has largely ruled
   since 1965.

   "I hope the ruling party can start to accept that," Tan said.

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