DILI, 23 december 2021 (TATOLI) — The President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres ‘Lu Olo’ urged Timor-Leste’s National Elections Commission (CNE) to work impartially in the upcoming Presidential Election.
“President had informed us that it is necessary for CNE as an electoral management body to keep its work impartially and remain neutral during the 2022 presidential election. The State would keep supporting CNE and STAE to have a good preparation for the presidential election,” The President of CNE, José Agostinho da Costa Belo told reporters after having a meeting with the President of the Republic, at the Palace of the President, in Dili, on thursday.
Belo said the electoral bodies need to come up with a good formula for the next 2022 presidential debate to help voters have a good decision for the 2022 presidential election.
During the meeting, CNE presented to the President of the Republic about the ongoing voters’ registration, saying the registration would be concluded in january 2022.
“We also asked President to give his opinion on how to enhance the electoral process in 2022,” said Belo.
He said CNE would keep realizing civic education to boost communities’ participation in the 2022 presidential election.
Previously, the Director-General of the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE), Acilino Manuel Branco informed that until 8 november 2022, STAE had registered more than 20.076 new voters.
“As of 8 november 2021, STAE had registered more than 855.597 voters across the country, including 6.538 Timorese voters who are currently residing overseas,” Branco said.
He said up to 1.200 vote centers and 1.500 polling stations had been set across the country, adding three parallel vote centers would be established in Dili
Journalist: Nelson de Sousa
Editor: Cancio Ximenes
Translation: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
