How much does GE2020 cost?

Do you agree with me?

The Singapore General Elections is reaching a fever pitch. Recently the government announced that the Electoral Boundaries Committee had submitted its proposal for the electoral boundaries in Singapore. Pundits have been calling the GE2020 as being held even as early as April, in spite of the COVID-19 situation.

Whether or not the decision to call a GE during such a crisis is open for debate. But to me, it is going to be seen as an ultra costly GE. According to expenses submitted to the Elections Department, PAP candidates spent $5.3 million while the eight opposition parties spent about $1.8 million. This brought the total election campaign expenditure to around $7.1 million.

If the government was to call for a GE within April 2020, it would effectively (sneakily) be riding on the goodwill of the electorate to win this GE. How? Just look at the Unity, Resilience, Solidarity Budgets costing the current government a whooping $60 billion ($6.4 billion + $48.4 billion + $5.1 billion). Who will not be impressed by this show of fiscal might by the PAP?

But on the darker side of things, once Singapore weathers through COVID-19, these Budgets will give full legitimacy for the government to propose their 9% GST to patch up this $60 billion gaping hole. Think about it Singaporeans.