Will there be a by-election in Punggol East?

SMU Assistant Professor of Law and NMP Eugene Tan said that it could take about six to 12 months before a by-election might be held, given the packed political calendar in the months ahead. He noted, for example, that the Parliament is set to discuss a White Paper on population and Budget 2013 in the first few months of next year. “Generally, the longer the time interval is between the vacating of the seat and the by-election, the better it is (for the party).” He also pointed out that in fact, there is no certainty that a by-election will be called in Punggol East, and that there is the question of “whether the People’s Action Party wants to create a political norm, to call for a by-election whenever a seat is being vacated”.