Weakening centre may feed extremism

Singapore

THERE is a looming pensions and healthcare financing crisis building in advanced economies as these countries cannot afford these commitments, said Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies on Friday.

And insecurity from the middle class around pensions and jobs, combined with sectarian conflicts, has caused a weakening in the political centre as extremist ideology finds favour among more voters. Against this situation, the fear is that broad structural reforms get pushed into the future, while nationalistic fervour gains ground.