Temperature check for passengers at Singapore's Changi Airport (Photo: AFP/VNA)Singapore (VNA) – The COVID-19 outbreak and its impact onthe economy are likely to worsen, and ensuring that Singapore can focus onovercoming the challenges is a major factor in deciding when to hold thegeneral election, said Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.
Speaking withreporters on March 11, the Deputy PM said that he is discussing the situationwith Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong, adding that the government’s current focusis on containing the outbreak and its impact on the economy.
It is likely theoutbreak will last until at least the end of the year, and Singapore needs tobe able to respond to this major uncertainty, he said.
When asked if Singapore would considerholding an election amid the COVID-19 outbreak, he replied that the authoritiesare looking at all possibilities, voicing his hope that election rules areproperly followed.
Singapore’s Electoral Boundaries ReviewCommittee (EBRC) was set up in September 2019. Its formation is a clear signthat the country’s general election, which must be held by April 2021, is near.
In Singapore’s previous elections, ageneral election could be called from between two and seven months from the timethe EBRC’s formation is announced./.
VNA
