Singapore dissolves parliament; early elections on anvil

SINGAPORE, April 19 (Reuters) - Singapore President S R Nathan dissolved parliament on Tuesday, paving the way for early general elections that should return the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) to power for another five years.

The elections can be held as soon as in early May, but no dates have been announced. They were not due until February next year.

Under Singapore law, the president now has to issue a writ of election after which a returning officer can give candidates as little as five days to file nomination papers.

Candidates will then have a minimum of nine days to campaign, with polls taking place on the 11th day following a one-day “cooling-off” period.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s PAP has ruled Singapore since independence in 1965 and will likely be returned with a large majority. The PAP won 82 of the 84 seats and got two-thirds of the votes at the last general elections in 2006.