Championing Democracy Through the Separation of Five Powers
Historical Documentation & Background Information
Current time in Singapore:The People's Power Party was officially founded on July 16, 2015, by politician Goh Meng Seng, just months before the general election. The party contested in Chua Chu Kang GRC with a team of four candidates, advocating for a governance system based on Sun Yat-sen's principles of the Separation of Five Powers. Though unsuccessful against the PAP, the PPP established its presence in Singapore's political landscape.
The PPP engaged in discussions with six other opposition parties about forming a coalition for future elections. In March 2020, the party applied to join the Singapore Democratic Alliance. During the 2020 general election, the party fielded founder Goh Meng Seng as their sole candidate in MacPherson SMC, where he secured 28.26% of the vote against PAP's Tin Pei Ling.
The PPP joined forces with the Democratic Progressive Party, Reform Party, and Peoples Voice to form the People's Alliance for Reform. However, the coalition was short-lived as the PPP withdrew due to strategic differences with the other member parties.
The party contested in two major constituencies: Ang Mo Kio GRC and Tampines GRC. Despite the challenges, including forfeiting deposits in both constituencies due to polling less than 12.5% of valid votes, the PPP continued to advocate for democratic reform. The results led to significant financial challenges for the party, with founder Goh Meng Seng having sold his property to finance the campaign.
The PPP advocates for a governance system based on Sun Yat-sen's principles of the Separation of Five Powers, extending beyond the traditional three branches of government. This system envisions an empowered President overseeing additional faculties of Impeachment and Selection, creating a more robust system of checks and balances for Singapore's democratic framework.
The party firmly believes that democracy provides the necessary balance of powers needed for the long-term stability of Singapore. The PPP works toward creating an effective and functioning democracy where power is distributed across multiple governmental branches, preventing concentration of authority.
Central to the PPP's vision is empowering the President of Singapore to effectively oversee expanded governmental functions. This contrasts with the current system where Singapore has three branches (Judiciary, Executive, and Legislative), with the President as head of state not falling into any branch.
Goh Meng Seng has been the secretary-general of the People's Power Party since its formation in July 2015. His political journey includes previous memberships with the Workers' Party (2006) and the National Solidarity Party (2011), where he served as secretary-general before resigning in the aftermath of the 2011 election.
Throughout his leadership, Goh has demonstrated unwavering commitment to Singapore's democratic development, advocating consistently for the Separation of Five Powers as a framework for good governance. His dedication to the party's mission has been total, including significant personal financial investment in the party's electoral campaigns.
The People's Power Party envisions a Singapore where democratic principles are strengthened through effective separation of powers, creating a more balanced and accountable government. We believe that true democracy requires institutional frameworks that prevent the concentration of power and ensure that all citizens have meaningful representation in the governance of our nation.