Politics of Timor-Leste

(Redirected from Government of Timor-Leste)

The political system in Timor-Leste is a unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic,[1][2][3] whereby the prime minister of Timor-Leste is the head of government and the president of Timor-Leste functions as head of state. Timor-Leste has a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the president and the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The East Timorese constitution was modelled on that of Portugal, with lesser power given to the president.[2] The country is still in the process of building its administration and governmental institutions. The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Timor-Leste a "flawed democracy" in 2024.[4][needs update] The country also had the highest electoral and liberal democracy scores in Southeast Asia in 2024, according to the V-Dem Democracy Indices.

Executive branch

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Government Palace in Dili

The head of state of the East Timorese republic is the president, who is directly elected by popular vote for a five-year term, and whose executive powers are somewhat limited by the constitution, the president is able to veto legislation, however this action can be overridden by the parliament. Following elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister,. As head of government the prime minister presides over the cabinet.

Main office-holders
Office Name Party Since
President José Ramos-Horta CNRT 20 May 2022
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão CNRT 1 July 2023

Legislative branch

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Parliament of Timor-Leste

The unicameral Timorese National Parliament (Parlamento Nacional) has 65 members elected by proportional representation (d'Hondt method) for a five-year term. The number of seats can vary from a minimum of 52 to a maximum of 65, with the exception of the first parliament, which included 88 members who previously served as the Constitutional Assembly six years rather than five (2001-2007). The longer term was in part due to the constitustion being put in place in 2002.[5]

The East Timorese constitution was modelled after that of Portugal.[6] The country is still in the process of building its administration and governmental institutions.

Political parties and elections

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Presidential elections

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
José Ramos-HortaNational Congress for Timorese Reconstruction303,47746.56398,02862.10
Francisco GuterresFretilin144,28222.13242,93937.90
Armanda Berta dos SantosKmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan56,6908.70
Lere Anan TimurIndependent49,3147.57
Mariano Sabino LopesDemocratic Party47,3347.26
Anacleto Bento FerreiraDemocratic Republic of Timor-Leste Party13,2052.03
Martinho Germano da Silva GusmãoUnited Party for Development and Democracy8,5981.32
Hermes da Rosa Correia BarrosIndependent8,0301.23
Milena PiresIndependent5,4300.83
Isabel da Costa FerreiraIndependent4,2190.65
Felizberto Araújo DuarteIndependent2,7090.42
Constâncio da Conceção PintoIndependent2,5200.39
Rogerio LobatoIndependent2,0580.32
Virgílio da Silva GuterresIndependent1,7200.26
Antero Benedito SilvaIndependent1,5620.24
Ángela FreitasIndependent7110.11
Total651,859100.00640,967100.00
Valid votes651,85998.16640,96799.16
Invalid/blank votes12,2471.845,4220.84
Total votes664,106100.00646,389100.00
Registered voters/turnout859,61377.26859,92575.17
Source: National Election Commission[7][8]

Parliamentary elections

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction288,28941.6331+10
Fretilin178,33825.7519–4
Democratic Party64,5179.326+1
Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan52,0317.5150
People's Liberation Party40,7205.884–4
Green Party of Timor25,1063.630New
United Party for Development and Democracy21,6473.130–1
Timorese Monarchist People's Association6,6780.9600
People's Freedom Party of Aileba3,2720.4700
Timorese Social Democratic Action Center3,1700.4600
Socialist Party of Timor2,4150.3500
Republican Party1,5580.2200
Christian Democratic Party1,2620.1800
Timorese Democratic Union1,2560.180–1
National Unity of Timorese Resistance1,0230.1500
Freedom Movement for the Maubere People6420.0900
National Development Party5970.0900
Total692,521100.00650
Valid votes692,52198.13
Invalid votes10,4731.48
Blank votes2,6980.38
Total votes705,692100.00
Registered voters/turnout890,14579.28
Source: CNE, Tatoli

Recent developments

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Francisco Guterres, known as Lú-Olo, of the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) was elected president in 2017 and held the position until May 2022.[9] The Alliance for Change and Progress (AMP), a three-party alliance, attempted to form a coalition with National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction, led by former president Xanana Gusmao, but the talks failed and Fretilin formed a minority government with the Timorese Democratic Party (DP) in September 2017. In October that year, the three opposition parties formed an alliance called Parliamentary Majority Oppositional Alliance (AOMP), and following pressures from this opposition alliance, president Guterres decided to dissolve the parliament in January 2018. This led to the second general election in May 2018.[10] In June 2018, former president Jose Maria de Vasconcelos known as Taur Matan Ruak of the Alliance of Change for Progress (AMP), became the new prime minister.[11] José Ramos-Horta of the centre-left CNRT has served as the president of Timor-Leste since 20 May 2022 after winning the April 2022 presidential election runoff.[12]

In parliamentary elections held on Sunday, May 21, 2023, the opposition party led by Xanana Gusmao won 41% of the vote, making him likely to return as prime minister of the country in a coalition with at least one other party.[13]

The country is aiming for admission to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a full member in 2025.[14] The Accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN began with the country's secession from Indonesia in 2002.[15] In November of 2022, ASEAN agreed "in principle" to admit Timor-Leste with observer status.[16]

Judicial branch

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The Supreme Court of Justice has one judge appointed by the National Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for the Judiciary. As mentioned in a 2010 source, the country was in the process of developing a legal system that includes private practice attorneys.[17]

Administrative divisions

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Map of the districts of Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste is divided into fourteen municipalities:

The districts are subdivided into 65 subdistricts, 443 sucos and 2,336 towns, villages and hamlets. "Ministerial Order" (PDF). Archived from the original on 10 January 2005. (213 KiB)

Cabinet

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Gusmão III (2023–present)

Official Gazette of Announced Council of Ministers

Matan Ruak (2018–2023)[18]
MinisterName
Prime Minister
Minister of the Interior
Taur Matan Ruak
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion
Armanda Berta dos Santos
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Planning and Territory
Jose Reis
Minister of the Presidency of the Council of MinistersFidelis Leite Magalhães
Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Joaquim Amaral
Minister for Legislative Reform and Parliamentary AffairsFrancisco Martins da Costa Pereira Jerónimo
Minister of Finance Fernando Hanjam
Minister for Foreign Affairs and CooperationAdaljiza Magno
Minister of JusticeManuel Cárceres da Costa
Minister of State Administration Miguel Pereira de Carvalho
Minister of Health Odete Maria Belo
Minister of Education, Youth and SportsArmindo Maia
Minister of Higher Education, Science and CultureLonguinhos dos Santos
Minister for the Affairs of National Liberation Combatants Júlio Sarmento da Costa "Meta Mali"
Minister of Public WorksSalvador Soares dos Reis Pires
Minister of Transport and CommunicationsJosé Agustinho da Silva
Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry José Lucas do Carmo da Silva
Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesPedro dos Reis
Minister of Defense Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus
Minister of Petroleum and MineralVíctor da Conceição Soares
Alkatiri II (2017–2018) [19]
MinisterName
Prime MinisterMari Alkatiri
Minister of Development and Institutional Reform
Minister of StateJosé Ramos-Horta
Rui Maria de Araújo
Estanislau da Silva
Mariano Assanami Sabino
Deputy Minister of the Prime MinisterHermenegildo Augusto Cabral Pereira
José Maria dos Reis
Counselor for National SecurityJosé Ramos-Horta
Presidency of the Council of MinistersAdriano do Nascimento
Minister of Foreign Affairs and CooperationAurélio Guterres
Minister of Defence and SecurityJosé Agostinho Sequeira ("Somotxo")
Minister of Interior
Minister of Planning and FinanceRui Gomes
Deputy Minister of Housing, Planning and EnvironmentAbrão Gabriel Santos Oliveira
Minister of Justice
Deputy Minister of JusticeSebastião Dias Ximenes
Minister of HealthRui Maria de Araújo
Deputy Minister of HealthLuís Maria Ribeiro Freitas Lobato
Minister of Education and CultureFernando Hanjam
Vice Minister of Education and CultureLurdes Bessa
Deputy Minister of Education and CultureJosé António de Jesus das Neves
Minister of State AdministrationValentim Ximenes
Deputy Minister of State AdministrationJosé Anuno
Minister of Commerce, Industry and EnvironmentAntónio Conceição
Deputy Minister of Commerce and IndustryJacinto Gusmão
Minister of Social SolidarityFlorentina da Conceição Pereira Martins Smith
Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications
Deputy Minister of Public WorksMariano Renato Monteiro da Cruz
Deputy Minister of Transport and CommunicationsInácio Freitas Moreira
Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesEstanislau da Silva
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesCipriano Esteves Doutel Ferreira
Minister of Tourism and Art
Minister of PetroleumHernani Filomena Coelho da Silva
Minister of Mineral ResourcesMariano Assanami Sabino
Araújo (2015–2017)[20]
MinisterName
Prime MinisterRui Maria de Araújo
Minister of StateHermenegildo Ágio Pereira
Fernando La Sama de Araújo (Coordinating Minister of Social)
Estanislau da Conceição Aleixo Maria da Silva (Coordinating Minister of Economy)
Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares (Coordinating Minister of State Administration Affairs and Justice)
Presidency of the Council of MinistersHermenegildo Ágio Pereira
Minister of Foreign Affairs and CooperationHernâni Coelho
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and CooperationRoberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares
Minister of DefenceCirilio José Cristóvão
Vice-Minister of DefenceN/A
Minister of InteriorLonguinhos Monteiro
Vice-Minister of InteriorN/A
Minister of FinanceSantina Cardoso
Vice-Minister of FinanceHélder Lopes
Minister of JusticeIvo Jorge Valente
Vice-Minister of JusticeN/A
Minister of HealthMaria do Céu Sarmento
Vice-Minister for HealthAna Isabel Soares [de]
Minister of EducationFernando La Sama de Araújo
Vice-Minister of Education IDulce Soares [de]
Vice-Minister of Education IIAbel da Costa Freitas Ximenes
Minister of State AdministrationDionísio da Costa Babo Soares
Vice-Minister of State AdministrationTomás do Rosário Cabral
Minister of Commerce, Industry and EnvironmentAntónio da Conceição
Vice-Minister of Commerce, Industry and EnvironmentConstâncio da Conceição Pinto
Minister of Social SolidarityIsabel Amaral Guterres [de]
Vice-Minister of Social SolidarityMiguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu
Minister of Public Works, Transport and CommunicationsGastão Francisco de Sousa
Vice-Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications IJanuário da Costa Pereira
Vice-Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications IIInácio Moreira
Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesEstanislau da Conceição Aleixo Maria da Silva
Vice-Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesMarcos da Cruz
Minister of Tourism, Art and CultureFrancisco Kalbuadi Lay
Vice-Minister of Tourism, Art and CultureN/A
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral ResourcesAlfredo Pires
Vice-Minister of Petroleum and Mineral ResourcesN/A
Minister of Planning and Strategic InvestmentXanana Gusmão
Vice-Minister of Planning and Strategic InvestmentN/A
Gusmão II (2012-2015)[21]
MinisterName
Prime MinisterKay Rala Xanana Gusmão
Vice Prime MinisterFernando La Sama de Araújo
Minister of StateAgio Pereira
José Luís Guterres
Presidency of the Council of MinistersAgio Pereira
Minister of Coordinator of Social AffairsFernando La Sama de Araújo
Minister of Foreign Affairs and CooperationJosé Luís Guterres
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and CooperationConstâncio da Conceição Pinto
Minister of Defence and SecurityXanana Gusmão
Vice-Minister of Defence and SecurityN/A
Minister of FinanceEmília Pires
Vice-Minister of FinanceSantina Cardoso
Minister of JusticeDionísio Babo Soares
Vice-Minister of JusticeIvo Jorge Valente
Minister of HealthSérgio Lobo
Vice-Minister for Ethnics and Service DeliveryNatália de Araújo [de]
Vice-Minister for Management, Support and ResourcesMaria do Céu Sarmento
Minister of EducationBendito Freitas
Vice-Minister of Basic/Primary EducationDulce Soares [de]
Vice-Minister of Secondary EducationVirgílio Simith
Vice-Minister of Higher EducationMarçal Avelino Ximenes
Minister of State AdministrationJorge Teme
Vice-Minister of State AdministrationN/A
Minister of Commerce, Industry and EnvironmentAntónio da Conceição
Vice-Minister of Commerce, Industry and EnvironmentAbel da Costa Ximenes
Minister of Social SolidarityIsabel Amaral Guterres [de]
Vice-Minister of Social SolidarityJacinto Rigoberto de Deus
Minister of Public WorksGastão Francisco de Sousa
Vice-Minister of Public WorksN/A
Minister of Transport and CommunicationsPedro Lay
Vice-Minister of Transport and CommunicationsFlávio Cardoso Neves
Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesMariano Assanami Sabino
Vice-Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesMarcos da Cruz
Minister of TourismFrancisco Kalbuadi Lay
Vice-Minister of TourismN/A
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral ResourcesAlfredo Pires
Vice-Minister of Petroleum and Mineral ResourcesN/A
Gusmão I (2007-2012)[22]
MinisterName
Prime MinisterKay Rala Xanana Gusmão
Vice Prime MinisterJosé Luís Guterres (Social Affairs)
? (Management and State Administration)
Minister of Defence and SecurityXanana Gusmão
Vice-Minister of Defence and SecurityN/A
Minister of Foreign Affairs and CooperationZacarias da Costa
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and CooperationN/A
Minister of FinanceEmília Pires
Vice-Minister of FinanceRui Manuel Hajam
Minister of JusticeLúcia Lobato
Vice-Minister of JusticeN/A
Minister of HealthNelson Martins
Vice-Minister of HealthMadalena Hanjam [de]
Minister of EducationJoão Câncio Freitas
Vice-Minister of EducationPaulo Assis Belo
Minister of Internal AdministrationArcângelo Leite
Vice-Minister of Internal AdministrationN/A
Minister of Economy and DevelopmentJoão Gonçalves
Vice-Minister of Economy and DevelopmentCristiano da Costa
Minister of Social SolidarityMaria Domingas Alves
Vice-Minister of Social SolidarityN/A
Minister of Public WorksGastão Francisco de Sousa
Vice-Minister of Public WorksN/A
Minister of InfrastructurePedro Lay
Vice-Minister of InfrastructureJosé Manuel Carrascalão
Minister of Transport, Communications and Public WorksOvidio D. J. Amaral
Vice-Minister of Transport, Communications and Public WorksN/A
Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesMariano Assanami Sabino
Vice-Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesN/A
Minister of Tourism, Commerce and IndustryGil Alves
Vice-Minister of Tourism, Commerce and IndustryN/A
Alkatiri I (2002-2007)[23]
MinisterName
Prime MinisterMarí Bim Amude Alkatiri
Vice Prime MinisterN/A
Minister of StateAnna Pessoa Pinto
Jose Ramos Horta
Vice-Minister of StateOlimpio Branco
Presidency of the Council of MinistersAnna Pessoa Pinto
Minister of Foreign Affairs and CooperationJose Ramos Horta
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and CooperationOlimpio Branco
Minister of Internal AffairsRogerio Tiago Lobato
Vice-Minister of Internal AffairsAlcino Baris
Minister of Planning and FinanceMaria M. B. Boavida
Vice-Minister of Planning and FinanceAicha Bassarewan
Minister of JusticeDomingos Maria Sarmento
Vice-Minister of JusticeManuel Abrantes
Minister of HealthRui Maria de Araujo
Vice-Minister of HealthLuis Maria Lobato
Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and SportsArmindo Maia
Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and SportsRosaria Corte-Real
Minister of Internal AdministrationAnna Pessoa Pinto
Vice-Minister of Internal AdministrationIlda M. da Conceicao
Minister of Development and Environment?
Vice-Minister of Development and EnvironmentAbel Da C. F. Ximenes
Minister of Transport, Communications and Public WorksOvidio D. J. Amaral
Vice-Minister of Transport, Communications and Public WorksArq Cesar V. Moreira
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesEstanislau A. da Silva
Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesF. De Sa Benevides

References

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  1. Shoesmith, Dennis (March–April 2003). "Timor-Leste: Divided Leadership in a Semi-Presidential System". Asian Survey. 43 (2). Berkeley: University of California Press: 231–252. doi:10.1525/as.2003.43.2.231. ISSN 0004-4687. OCLC 905451085. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2020. The semi-presidential system in the new state of Timor-Leste has institutionalized a political struggle between the president, Xanana Gusmão, and the prime minister, Mari Alkatiri. This has polarized political alliances and threatens the viability of the new state. This paper explains the ideological divisions and the history of rivalry between these two key political actors. The adoption of Marxism by Fretilin in 1977 led to Gusmão's repudiation of the party in the 1980s and his decision to remove Falintil, the guerrilla movement, from Fretilin control. The power struggle between the two leaders is then examined in the transition to independence. This includes an account of the politicization of the defense and police forces and attempts by Minister of Internal Administration Rogério Lobato to use disaffected Falintil veterans as a counterforce to the Gusmão loyalists in the army. The 4 December 2002, Dili riots are explained in the context of this political struggle.
  2. 1 2 Neto, Octávio Amorim; Lobo, Marina Costa (2010). "Between Constitutional Diffusion and Local Politics: Semi-Presidentialism in Portuguese-Speaking Countries" (PDF). APSA 2010 Annual Meeting Paper. Social Science Research Network. SSRN 1644026. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  3. Beuman, Lydia M. (2016). Political Institutions in East Timor: Semi-Presidentialism and Democratisation. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN 978-1317362128. LCCN 2015036590. OCLC 983148216. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2017 via Google Books.
  4. Democracy Index 2023: Age of Conflict (PDF). Economist Intelligence Unit (Report). 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  5. "Timor-Leste passes bill to protect constitution". UCA News. 17 May 2022.
  6. "Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor)". US department of state.
  7. "Apuramento Eleisaun Presidente Repúblika 2022 (1st round)". Archived from the original on 15 April 2022.
  8. "Apuramento Eleisaun Presidente Repúblika 2022 (2nd round)". Archived from the original on 6 June 2022.
  9. "East Timor profile - Timeline". BBC News. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  10. "East Timor votes in second general election in 10 months". Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  11. Cruz, Nelson de la (22 June 2018). "New East Timor PM pledges to bring unity after political deadlock". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  12. "Timor-Leste presidential election: José Ramos-Horta wins in landslide". the Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 20 April 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  13. "East Timor's opposition party wins most seats in parliamentary election". AP News. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  14. "Timor-Leste Economy, Politics and GDP Growth Summary - The Economist Intelligence Unit". country.eiu.com. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  15. "Admitting ASEAN's 11th member". The ASEAN Post. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  16. "ASEAN agrees in principle to admit East Timor as 11th member". Reuters. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  17. "Setór Justisa Planu Estratéjiku ba Timor-Leste 2011-2030" (PDF). Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  18. "Ruak". Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  19. "Alkatiri II". Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  20. Archived 16 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Araújo
  21. Archived 20 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Gusmão II
  22. Archived 27 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine Gusmão I
  23. Archived 20 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Alkatiri

Further reading

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