DILI, 24 january 2023 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak met with the President of the Republic José Ramos Horta to discuss the electoral calendar for the 2023 Parliamentary Elections.
“It’s my weekly meeting with President Horta which we talked about the 2023 general elections,” Prime Minister Ruak told reporters at the Presidential Palace, in Dili, today.
When asked about the government’s proposed date for the general elections, Ruak said fixed dates for the elections would be decided by the Head of State after hearing the government, political parties, and relevant parties.
“We will see what date will be set for the parliamentary elections. From the government side, I have assured President Horta that whatever date the Head of State decides for the 2023 general elections, the government is ready to organize the elections,” Ruak said.
Last week, after a meeting with Prime Minister Ruak at the House of Parliament, the Speaker of the National Parliament, Aniceto Longuinhos Guterres said that the electoral calendar for the 2023 General Elections would be decreed based on the Government’s proposal.
According to Section 86(C) of the Constitution of Timor-Leste, one of the competencies of the President of the Republic is to set the dates for presidential and legislative elections in accordance with the law.
Last thursday, Parliamentary Committee A, which deals with Constitution and Justice, held a public hearing on the fifth amendment to the electoral law for Parliament with relevant parties, including the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE), the Ministry of State Administration (MoSA), and the Court of Appeal.
The fifth amendment to Law 6/2006, of 28 december, includes the incorporation of a number of innovations, such as the introduction of postal voting, the extension of polling station opening hours, the creation of parallel polling centers in the capital Dili, and journalists are allowed to vote in the polling center where they cover the parliamentary elections.
As of december 30, 2022, STAE registered 878,712 voters in the country, including 6,944 Timorese voters living abroad.
The 878,712 voters are made up of 34,706 voters from Aileu, 46,945 from Ainaro, 2,600 from Atauro, 98,629 from Baucau, 72,811 from Bobonaro, 48,830 from Covalima, 192. 934 from Dili, 84,361 from Ermera, 49,380 from Lautém, 51,925 from Liquiça, 35,999 from Manatuto, 41,574 from Manufahi, 53,151 from RAEOA and 58,867 voters from Viqueque.
Meanwhile, the 6,944 voters living abroad are made up of 1,462 voters residing in Australia, 1,237 in South Korea, 2,185 in Northern Ireland, 1,241 in Portugal, and 819 in the United Kingdom.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
