The election of President Republic of Timor – Leste in Australia might be canceled

DILI, 19 january 2021 (TATOLI)- The election of the President of the Republic will be canceled for the Timorese Diaspora in Australia because STAE did not register new electors and actualize the electoral in Australia during this time but the election of the President of the Republic will remain to conduct the election if Australia open the lock down.

“The government through STAE has prepared a registration team to register the new electors and actualize the electoral data in Australia but its not realized because the Australian government is still implementing a lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19 until now,” National Director of the Technical Secretariat of Electoral Administration (STAE), Acilino Manuel Branco told Tatoli at the office of STAE, Kaikoli, Dili, today.

Branco added that although STAE is yet to register the new electors and also yet to actualize the electoral data in Australia, but STAE wishes the election of President of the Republic remain to conduct in Australia on march 19, 2022 because the data from old electors from the diaspora in Australia is still stored in the national database of STAE.

“We are waiting for the Australian Government if Australia opens the lock down, we will bring the materials of the election of the President Republic to Australia to realize the election of the President of the Republic of Timor – Leste to the old electors who are still living in Australia,” Branco said.

Branco explained,Timor – Leste ‘s electoral system does not allow the citizens to vote online, therefore if Australia continues to lockdown, STAE will automatically cancel the election of the President of the Republic in Australia on 19 march, 2022.

“Timor Leste is yet to implement an online election, elections must be held at the polling stations directly in a democratic way and transparent manner. Therefore, if the lock down in Australia maintain be implemented, Timor – Leste diaspora electors in Australia will not participate the election of President of the Republic which will be held on 19 March 2022 and automatically the election of the President of the Republic of Timor – Leste will be canceled in Australia,” Branco said.

Journalist: Camilio de Sousa

Editor: Rafy Belo