A former British colony located in Southeast Asia, after gaining independence, managed to turn from a so-called third world country into a financial center of international importance after gaining independence. The self-made success distinguishes Singapore from another famous offshore zone, Hong Kong, which has always been under the patronage of powerful powers. It is possible that the rapid economic development and the extremely low level of corruption are a direct consequence of the specific political structure of this small city-state. It is worth noting that the bulk of its population are ethnic Chinese.
Under the rule of the English crown
Singapore was founded in the early 19th century by Stamford Raffles, a colonial official of the British Empire. Control over the tropical island passed to the British in accordance with the agreement that they concluded with the local sultan. The city became one of the most important trading portsMalay Archipelago.
During World War II, Singapore was occupied by Imperial Japan. The units of the British army located on the island could not repel the attack and capitulated. The occupation administration subjected the population of Singapore to severe repression. After the defeat of Japan, the island was returned to Britain, but the power of the English crown was weakened due to the inability to protect the controlled territory demonstrated during the World War.
Sovereign state
In 1965, the colony gained independence. The country was led by Yusuf bin Ishak as President of Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew became the first prime minister. In those days, many doubted that the young state would be able to exist independently. However, the rapid economic development of the island has exceeded the wildest expectations. The first president of Singapore was a largely ceremonial figure. The decisive role in the formation of the state was played by Prime Minister Li (Chinese surnames traditionally come before the name), who held his post until 1990. After his resignation, he received the status of special adviser to the government and continued to influence the political life of the country. The current prime minister is his son Lee Hsien Loong.
President of Singapore
The country is considered a parliamentary republic. The commitment of this state to democratic principles is often called into question due to the lack of real political competition andirremovable rule of one party. Until 1991, the President of Singapore was elected by Parliament and had very limited powers. Subsequently, the constitution was amended, significantly expanding his power. The President of Singapore received the right to appoint judges and veto government decisions related to the use of national reserves. The head of state began to be elected by direct popular vote. But despite these reforms, the office of the President of Singapore is still ceremonial.
Elections
An interesting feature is that, in accordance with the law, a candidate for the post of head of state should not be a member of any political party. Singapore's first direct presidential election took place in 1993. The head of the republic performs his duties for six years and can nominate his candidacy for a second term. Three times in the history of the country elections were uncontested. This means that the only candidate in the absence of any competition automatically became the winner. In 2017, a woman took over as head of state for the first time. Singapore's President Halima Yacob is from the Malay national minority.
Parliament
The system of legislative power in the republic has its roots in the colonial period, but differs somewhat from the British model. In accordance with the constitution, Singapore's unicameral parliament providesmaximum 99 seats. The 89 members of the country's main legislative body are elected by citizens, while the rest are appointed by the government. Throughout the history of independent Singapore, a party called "People's Action" has held an absolute majority in Parliament. Opposition political movements receive an insignificant number of deputy mandates. For example, in the 2015 elections, the ruling party won 83 out of 86 seats in parliament. Based on these facts, some reputable newspapers and magazines claim that Singapore's political system is a so-called "corrupted democracy".
Prime Minister
The head of government is the most powerful person in the state hierarchy, both legally and practically. The Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers always takes the position of the leader of the party with the absolute majority of votes in Parliament. In accordance with the constitution, executive power belongs to the president of the country, but in practice all his actions are necessarily coordinated with the government. This order has historically developed since the time of the first Prime Minister Lee. His son Li Sun Loong maintains a rigid and authoritarian domestic policy. Despite accusations of violating democratic principles, Singapore's government is recognized as one of the most effective in the world. The republic ranks first in the ranking of Asian countries free from corruption.
