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Constitution |
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The political system in East Timor is a unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic,[1][2][3] whereby the Prime Minister of East Timor is the head of government and the President of East Timor functions as head of state. East Timor 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 East Timor a "flawed democracy" in 2022.[4][needs update]
Executive branch
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/DSCI2934_Gr%C3%BCne_Flagge_am_Regierungspalast.jpg/220px-DSCI2934_Gr%C3%BCne_Flagge_am_Regierungspalast.jpg)
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.
Office | Name | Party | Since |
---|---|---|---|
President | José Ramos-Horta | CNRT | 20 May 2022 |
Prime Minister | Xanana Gusmão | CNRT | 1 July 2023 |
Legislative branch
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/East_timor_parliament-davidrobie.jpg/220px-East_timor_parliament-davidrobie.jpg)
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
[edit]Presidential elections
[edit]Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Francisco Guterres | Fretilin | 295,048 | 57.08 | |
António da Conceição | Democratic Party | 167,794 | 32.46 | |
José Luís Guterres | Frenti-Mudança | 13,513 | 2.61 | |
José Neves | Independent | 11,663 | 2.26 | |
Luís Alves Tilman | Independent | 11,125 | 2.15 | |
Antonio Maher Lopes | Socialist Party of Timor | 9,102 | 1.76 | |
Ángela Freitas | Timorese Labor Party | 4,353 | 0.84 | |
Amorim Vieira | Independent | 4,283 | 0.83 | |
Total | 516,881 | 100.00 | ||
Valid votes | 516,881 | 97.74 | ||
Invalid/blank votes | 11,932 | 2.26 | ||
Total votes | 528,813 | 100.00 | ||
Registered voters/turnout | 743,150 | 71.16 | ||
Source: CNE |
Parliamentary elections
[edit]![]() | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
Alliance for Change and Progress (CNRT–PLP–KHUNTO) | 309,663 | 49.58 | 34 | –1 | |
Fretilin | 213,324 | 34.16 | 23 | 0 | |
Democratic Party | 50,370 | 8.07 | 5 | –2 | |
Democratic Development Forum (PUDD–UDT–FM–PDN) | 34,301 | 5.49 | 3 | +3 | |
Hope of the Fatherland Party | 5,060 | 0.81 | 0 | 0 | |
National Development Movement (APMT–PLPA–MLPM–UNDERTIM) | 4,494 | 0.72 | 0 | 0 | |
Republican Party | 4,125 | 0.66 | 0 | 0 | |
Social Democratic Movement (CASDT–PSD–PST–PDC) | 3,188 | 0.51 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 624,525 | 100.00 | 65 | 0 | |
Valid votes | 624,525 | 98.33 | |||
Invalid/blank votes | 10,591 | 1.67 | |||
Total votes | 635,116 | 100.00 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 784,286 | 80.98 | |||
Source: CNE |
Recent developments
[edit]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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] José Ramos-Horta of the centre-left CNRT has served as the president of East Timor since 20 May 2022 after winning the April 2022 presidential election runoff.[10]
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.[11]
Judicial branch
[edit]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.[12]
Administrative divisions
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/East_Timor_municipalities_numbers_2003-2015.png/240px-East_Timor_municipalities_numbers_2003-2015.png)
East Timor is divided into thirteen municipalities:
The districts are subdivided into 65 subdistricts, 443 sucos and 2,336 towns, villages and hamlets. "Ministerial Order" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2005. (213 KiB)
Cabinet
[edit]- Gusmão III (2023–present)
Official Gazette of Announced Council of Ministers
- Matan Ruak (2018–2023)[13]
Minister | Name |
---|---|
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 Ministers | Fidelis Leite Magalhães |
Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs | Joaquim Amaral |
Minister for Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs | Francisco Martins da Costa Pereira Jerónimo |
Minister of Finance | Fernando Hanjam |
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | Adaljiza Magno |
Minister of Justice | Manuel Cárceres da Costa |
Minister of State Administration | Miguel Pereira de Carvalho |
Minister of Health | Odete Maria Belo |
Minister of Education, Youth and Sports | Armindo Maia |
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture | Longuinhos dos Santos |
Minister for the Affairs of National Liberation Combatants | Júlio Sarmento da Costa "Meta Mali" |
Minister of Public Works | Salvador Soares dos Reis Pires |
Minister of Transport and Communications | José Agustinho da Silva |
Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry | José Lucas do Carmo da Silva |
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | Pedro dos Reis |
Minister of Defense | Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus |
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral | Víctor da Conceição Soares |
- Alkatiri II (2017–2018) [14]
Minister | Name |
---|---|
Prime Minister | Mari Alkatiri |
Minister of Development and Institutional Reform | |
Minister of State | José Ramos-Horta |
Rui Maria de Araújo | |
Estanislau da Silva | |
Mariano Assanami Sabino | |
Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister | Hermenegildo Augusto Cabral Pereira |
José Maria dos Reis | |
Counselor for National Security | José Ramos-Horta |
Presidency of the Council of Ministers | Adriano do Nascimento |
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | Aurélio Guterres |
Minister of Defence and Security | José Agostinho Sequeira ("Somotxo") |
Minister of Interior | |
Minister of Planning and Finance | Rui Gomes |
Deputy Minister of Housing, Planning and Environment | Abrão Gabriel Santos Oliveira |
Minister of Justice | |
Deputy Minister of Justice | Sebastião Dias Ximenes |
Minister of Health | Rui Maria de Araújo |
Deputy Minister of Health | Luís Maria Ribeiro Freitas Lobato |
Minister of Education and Culture | Fernando Hanjam |
Vice Minister of Education and Culture | Lurdes Bessa |
Deputy Minister of Education and Culture | José António de Jesus das Neves |
Minister of State Administration | Valentim Ximenes |
Deputy Minister of State Administration | José Anuno |
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Environment | António Conceição |
Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry | Jacinto Gusmão |
Minister of Social Solidarity | Florentina da Conceição Pereira Martins Smith |
Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications | |
Deputy Minister of Public Works | Mariano Renato Monteiro da Cruz |
Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications | Inácio Freitas Moreira |
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | Estanislau da Silva |
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | Cipriano Esteves Doutel Ferreira |
Minister of Tourism and Art | |
Minister of Petroleum | Hernani Filomena Coelho da Silva |
Minister of Mineral Resources | Mariano Assanami Sabino |
- Araújo (2015–2017)[15]
Minister | Name |
---|---|
Prime Minister | Rui Maria de Araújo |
Minister of State | Hermenegildo 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 Ministers | Hermenegildo Ágio Pereira |
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | Hernâni Coelho |
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares |
Minister of Defence | Cirilio José Cristóvão |
Vice-Minister of Defence | N/A |
Minister of Interior | Longuinhos Monteiro |
Vice-Minister of Interior | N/A |
Minister of Finance | Santina Cardoso |
Vice-Minister of Finance | Hélder Lopes |
Minister of Justice | Ivo Jorge Valente |
Vice-Minister of Justice | N/A |
Minister of Health | Maria do Céu Sarmento |
Vice-Minister for Health | Ana Isabel Soares |
Minister of Education | Fernando La Sama de Araújo |
Vice-Minister of Education I | Dulce Soares |
Vice-Minister of Education II | Abel da Costa Freitas Ximenes |
Minister of State Administration | Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares |
Vice-Minister of State Administration | Tomás do Rosário Cabral |
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Environment | António da Conceição |
Vice-Minister of Commerce, Industry and Environment | Constâncio da Conceição Pinto |
Minister of Social Solidarity | Isabel Amaral Guterres |
Vice-Minister of Social Solidarity | Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu |
Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications | Gastão Francisco de Sousa |
Vice-Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications I | Januário da Costa Pereira |
Vice-Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications II | Inácio Moreira |
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | Estanislau da Conceição Aleixo Maria da Silva |
Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | Marcos da Cruz |
Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture | Francisco Kalbuadi Lay |
Vice-Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture | N/A |
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources | Alfredo Pires |
Vice-Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources | N/A |
Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment | Xanana Gusmão |
Vice-Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment | N/A |
- Gusmão II (2012-2015)[16]
Minister | Name |
---|---|
Prime Minister | Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão |
Vice Prime Minister | Fernando La Sama de Araújo |
Minister of State | Agio Pereira |
José Luís Guterres | |
Presidency of the Council of Ministers | Agio Pereira |
Minister of Coordinator of Social Affairs | Fernando La Sama de Araújo |
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | José Luís Guterres |
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | Constâncio da Conceição Pinto |
Minister of Defence and Security | Xanana Gusmão |
Vice-Minister of Defence and Security | N/A |
Minister of Finance | Emília Pires |
Vice-Minister of Finance | Santina Cardoso |
Minister of Justice | Dionísio Babo Soares |
Vice-Minister of Justice | Ivo Jorge Valente |
Minister of Health | Sérgio Lobo |
Vice-Minister for Ethnics and Service Delivery | Natália de Araújo |
Vice-Minister for Management, Support and Resources | Maria do Céu Sarmento |
Minister of Education | Bendito Freitas |
Vice-Minister of Basic/Primary Education | Dulce Soares |
Vice-Minister of Secondary Education | Virgílio Simith |
Vice-Minister of Higher Education | Marçal Avelino Ximenes |
Minister of State Administration | Jorge Teme |
Vice-Minister of State Administration | N/A |
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Environment | António da Conceição |
Vice-Minister of Commerce, Industry and Environment | Abel da Costa Ximenes |
Minister of Social Solidarity | Isabel Amaral Guterres |
Vice-Minister of Social Solidarity | Jacinto Rigoberto de Deus |
Minister of Public Works | Gastão Francisco de Sousa |
Vice-Minister of Public Works | N/A |
Minister of Transport and Communications | Pedro Lay |
Vice-Minister of Transport and Communications | Flávio Cardoso Neves |
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | Mariano Assanami Sabino |
Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | Marcos da Cruz |
Minister of Tourism | Francisco Kalbuadi Lay |
Vice-Minister of Tourism | N/A |
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources | Alfredo Pires |
Vice-Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources | N/A |
- Gusmão I (2007-2012)[17]
Minister | Name |
---|---|
Prime Minister | Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão |
Vice Prime Minister | José Luís Guterres (Social Affairs) |
? (Management and State Administration) | |
Minister of Defence and Security | Xanana Gusmão |
Vice-Minister of Defence and Security | N/A |
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | Zacarias da Costa |
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | N/A |
Minister of Finance | Emília Pires |
Vice-Minister of Finance | Rui Manuel Hajam |
Minister of Justice | Lúcia Lobato |
Vice-Minister of Justice | N/A |
Minister of Health | Nelson Martins |
Vice-Minister of Health | Madalena Hanjam |
Minister of Education | João Câncio Freitas |
Vice-Minister of Education | Paulo Assis Belo |
Minister of Internal Administration | Arcângelo Leite |
Vice-Minister of Internal Administration | N/A |
Minister of Economy and Development | João Gonçalves |
Vice-Minister of Economy and Development | Cristiano da Costa |
Minister of Social Solidarity | Maria Domingas Alves |
Vice-Minister of Social Solidarity | N/A |
Minister of Public Works | Gastão Francisco de Sousa |
Vice-Minister of Public Works | N/A |
Minister of Infrastructure | Pedro Lay |
Vice-Minister of Infrastructure | José Manuel Carrascalão |
Minister of Transport, Communications and Public Works | Ovidio D. J. Amaral |
Vice-Minister of Transport, Communications and Public Works | N/A |
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | Mariano Assanami Sabino |
Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | N/A |
Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry | Gil Alves |
Vice-Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry | N/A |
- Alkatiri I (2002-2007)[18]
Minister | Name |
---|---|
Prime Minister | Marí Bim Amude Alkatiri |
Vice Prime Minister | N/A |
Minister of State | Anna Pessoa Pinto |
Jose Ramos Horta | |
Vice-Minister of State | Olimpio Branco |
Presidency of the Council of Ministers | Anna Pessoa Pinto |
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | Jose Ramos Horta |
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | Olimpio Branco |
Minister of Internal Affairs | Rogerio Tiago Lobato |
Vice-Minister of Internal Affairs | Alcino Baris |
Minister of Planning and Finance | Maria M. B. Boavida |
Vice-Minister of Planning and Finance | Aicha Bassarewan |
Minister of Justice | Domingos Maria Sarmento |
Vice-Minister of Justice | Manuel Abrantes |
Minister of Health | Rui Maria de Araujo |
Vice-Minister of Health | Luis Maria Lobato |
Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports | Armindo Maia |
Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports | Rosaria Corte-Real |
Minister of Internal Administration | Anna Pessoa Pinto |
Vice-Minister of Internal Administration | Ilda M. da Conceicao |
Minister of Development and Environment | ? |
Vice-Minister of Development and Environment | Abel Da C. F. Ximenes |
Minister of Transport, Communications and Public Works | Ovidio D. J. Amaral |
Vice-Minister of Transport, Communications and Public Works | Arq Cesar V. Moreira |
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | Estanislau A. da Silva |
Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | F. De Sa Benevides |
References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Timor-Leste passes bill to protect constitution". UCA News. 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor)". US department of state.
- ^ "East Timor profile - Timeline". BBC News. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ "East Timor votes in second general election in 10 months". Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "East Timor's opposition party wins most seats in parliamentary election". AP News. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Ruak". Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
- ^ "Alkatiri II". Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ [1] Archived 16 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Araújo
- ^ [2] Archived 20 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Gusmão II
- ^ [3] Archived 27 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine Gusmão I
- ^ [4] Archived 20 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Alkatiri
Further reading
[edit]- Berlie, Jean A, ed. (2018). East Timor's Independence, Indonesia and ASEAN. London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9783319626291.
- Beuman, Lydia (2016). Political Institutions in East Timor: Semi-Presidentialism and Democratisation. Routledge Contemporary Southeast Asia Series. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN 9781138950337. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- Devereux, Annemarie (28 May 2015). Timor-Leste's Bill of Rights: A Preliminary History. ANU Press. ISBN 9781925022391. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- Hicks, David (15 September 2014). Rhetoric and the Decolonization and Recolonization of East Timor. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-69534-9.
- Ingram, Sue; Kent, Lia; McWilliam, Andrew, eds. (2015). A New Era?: Timor-Leste after the UN. State, Society and Governance in Melanesia series. Acton, ACT: ANU Press. ISBN 9781925022513. JSTOR j.ctt183q3gn.
- Leach, Michael; Kingsbury, Damien, eds. (2013). The Politics of Timor-Leste: Democratic Consolidation After Intervention (PDF). Studies on Southeast Asia, no. 59. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, Southeast Asia Program Publications. ISBN 9780877277897. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- Nixon, Rod (2011). Justice and Governance in East Timor: Indigenous Approaches and the 'New Subsistence State'. Routledge Contemporary Southeast Asia Series. London; New York: Routledge. ISBN 9781912483594.
- Novak, Parker (29 November 2023). "Timor-Leste's uncertain future". Lowy Institute. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- Strating, Rebecca (2016). Social Democracy in East Timor. Routledge Contemporary Southeast Asia Series. London; New York: Routledge. ISBN 9781138885325.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- "Law and Justice in Timor-Leste: A Survey of Citizen Awareness and Attitudes Regarding Law and Justice" (PDF). The Asia Foundation. 2008.