This is by far one of the more interesting thread.My view ( all are entitled to their own, as someone has said, we can all agree to disagre ) :- EP is a farce, resulting from LKY's righteous but immature indignation that Singaporeans can vote against PAP in spite of his nation-building works (economic mostly, but he forget people are entitled to be busy song)From 1984 to going thru motions justifying 2nd key, rogue Govt, what not logic, finally incorporated into Constitution.So, for me, EP should be scrapped & reverted to the dignified Presidency we once had- All the legalistic mambo jumbo about stiff roles of the EP, even Michiavellian Old Man forget, you can have all your constitutional specifics, once you let the whole populace elect, Seow leow, whoever is elected has moral authority on his side.Even if for whatever reason if TT wins, and all of us are disappointed, the fact that there is a political campaign, the Pandora box cracked ajar at the recent GE, will be irrevocably thrown wide open.- I believe the nincompoop PEC arde as spineless as they come, must be under orders to let all 4 qualify then :A. PAP Govt can be spared the Nathan precedent: unelected EP because none can even qualify.B. Arising from the swing in 2011 GE, Old Man & son have no feel for the 21st century electorate where those post 65 voters have cast aside heir fears of ballot numbers at the rear. C. They want to test how establishment machinery (from clan, chambers of commerce, trade unions, PA, grassroots blah blah) can overcome the anti-PAP ground and by how much....Results after 27th PE election will be highly educational to all Singaporeans : pappies, rabid PAP-haters and everything in betweenThis live market result will then allow LHL to seriously prepare for the next GE & how far to take George Yeo's reform-within message to. note even as old man's blue eye boy George Yeo has always been co-opted into CEC, he is weak in terms of raw support from LKY-controlled cadres- I don't think TJS is totally confident of winning PE, but who cares! If he has a slim chance of qualifying, die die must try. Win, pick up gulan like hokkien says, if lose, visibility for next GE. No lose scenario.if PAP can send their preferred 'independent' candidate, so can one come from Opposition camp. Resign only mah, can Jin back one next time ....- In spite of all the spit & fire comments from all passionate forummers here, do not forget, only 1 GRC fell.Other than PAP's unsporting gerrymandering (quite fair to say GE2011 is least unfair compared to the past, in part Opp smarter now & new electorate won"t stand for 'repent' nonsense anymore), that 60 odd percent who still voted for PAP may not be PAP lovers but generally fair-minded folks who recognize credit where credit is due but no less happy with high-handed uncaring souless " hard truths " paternalistic-authoritarian brand of governance that LKY will swear by to his death.- this last point points to ex-PAP & even current PAP MPs even members. excluded are the porlumpar glassloot