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Punggol East by-election, 2013

Punggol East by-election, 2013
Singapore
← 2012 26 January 2013 2016 →
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Lee Li Lian Koh Poh Koon
Party WP PAP
Popular vote 16,045 12,875
Percentage 54.5% 43.7%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Candidate Kenneth Jeyaretnam Desmond Lim
Party Reform SDA
Popular vote 353 168
Percentage 1.2% 0.6 %

MP before election

Michael Palmer
PAP

Elected MP

Lee Li Lian
WP


Michael Palmer
PAP

Lee Li Lian
WP

A by-election for the Punggol East Single Member Constituency in Singapore was held on 26 January 2013 because of the resignation of former parliamentary speaker Michael Palmer from the People's Action Party on 12 December 2012.

This was the 17th by-election since the first election, and the second by-election in as many years. The Nomination Day was held on 16 January 2013, while Polling Day was on 26 January 2013. This was also returning officer, Yam Ah Mee's last stint, following his resignation from the People's Association.

On 26 January 2013, Lee Li Lian of the Workers' Party elected as the Member of Parliament for Punggol East SMC.

The by-election was called by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the advice of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after the seat of Punggol East was left vacant when then the incumbent, then Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer, resigned from his seat due to him having an extramarital affair.

A local tabloid, The New Paper, reported that they received a tip-off on 8 December 2012, in the form of screengrabs of phone messages that the Speaker of Parliament, Michael Palmer was having an extramarital affair. The messages suggested that the two had close relationship and met regularly on Mondays. The New Paper also stated that they have been in this relationship for a year. On the same Saturday, Palmer met DPM Teo Chee Hean to tender his resignation as speaker and MP. The next day, PM Lee Hsien Loong met Palmer to confirm his resignation.


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