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Singapore's Presidential election

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  1. Flocculencio
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    This is a bit of a long read, but I felt people might find a look at how a system which has been called an illiberal democracy operates to be interesting. Singapore has a unicameral Parliamentary...

    This is a bit of a long read, but I felt people might find a look at how a system which has been called an illiberal democracy operates to be interesting. Singapore has a unicameral Parliamentary system where the President is a (mostly ceremonial) Head of State, formerly appointed, now elected. This article explores the evolution of the office.

    Elections in most democracies are usually opportunities for citizens to revel in the marvel of joint decision-making, of collective choice, of living in a system where citizens are empowered to choose their leaders. But Friday’s presidential election in Singapore will be a reminder mostly of how convoluted the practice of democracy here has become. And how that, itself, is a symptom of a rather depressing aspect of being Singaporean: our leaders simply don’t trust our judgement.

    4 votes