DILI, 21 may 2023 (TATOLI) – Voters in Timor-Leste voted today to elect a new government and new members of parliament, in an election that aims to bring change and progress to the country.
The Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) registered a total of 890,145 Timorese voters to participate in Sunday’s Parliamentary Elections.
Seventeen parties are competing in the election, making Timor-Leste one of the most democratic countries in the Southeast Asian region.
The 17 political parties are National Development Party (PDN); Aileba People Liberation Party (PLPA); People’s Liberation Party (PLP); Democratic Party (PD); Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan (KHUNTO); Green Party (PVT); Timorese Union Democratic (UDT); Party of Unity for Democratic Development (PUDD); Republican Party (PR); National Unity Democratic Party of the Timorese Resistance (UNDERTIM); Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN); National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT); Timorese Social Democratic Action Center Party (CASDTL); Maubere People’s Liberation Movement Party (MLPM); Timorese Socialist Party (PST); Christian Democratic Party (PDC); and Association of Timorese Popular Monarchy (APMT).
Members of the 65-seat of National Parliament would be elected from these political parties to serve a five-year term. The new National Parliament is expected to take office on june 12.
Tatoli reporters at locations across the country noted that all polling stations closed at the planned time of 03:00 p.m.
The tabulation of votes at the municipal level is ongoing, and in some municipalities with a small number of voters, the tabulation results are expected to be completed within 24 hours.
Municipal and regional tabulation of results and submission of the electoral minutes and other elements (ballot papers claimed and complaints filed) to CNE would be conducted from 21 to 23 may. And the national tabulation would be conducted from 24 to 27 may.
The result of the national tabulation would be officially announced by the Court of Appeal and published in the Official Journal on 27 june.
Sunday’s election is Timor-Leste’s sixth parliamentary election and the last election was held in May 2018, with the EU observation mission finding that the elections were “transparent, well-managed and credible” and that they generally ran in a peaceful and orderly manner, despite some violent incidents during the campaign period.
It seems that no party will receive more than half the votes, so a coalition will be formed by the party with the most votes.
CNRT and FRETILIN, the two largest parties, are expected to get more votes in the elections. The party with the most votes in the elections is expected to form the coalition first. Thus, the next Prime Minister will be appointed by the party with the parliamentary majority.
Elections are held every five years using a party-list proportional representation voting system to elect 65 members to the National Parliament. Voting is voluntary for all Timorese citizens over the age of 17.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
