DILI, 23 may 2023 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s charismatic leader, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão’s, National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) secures a big victory over the ruling parties – the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN), People’s Liberation Party (PLP), and Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan (KHUNTO).
With all votes counted, Gusmão’s was on 41.62 percent of the votes — a 16-point lead over the leading ruling party FRETILIN of the former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, which had 25.75 percent, PLP of the current Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak had 5.88 percent, and KHUNTO was on 7,52 percent of the votes.
According to the STAE municipal tabulation, the increase in seats from 21 to 31, allowed Gusmão’s party CNRT to form a coalition. The municipal tabulation showed that both FRETILIN and PLP lost four seats each, with FRETILIN down from its current 23 seats to 19, and the PLP down from its current eight seats to four, except for KHUNTO, which is the only ruling party to keep its five seats.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party (PD), one of the opposition parties which is likely to form a coalition with Gusmão’s CNRT had 9.32 percent of the votes to secure six seats compared to five seats in the previous election.
Despite having many supporters, the Green Party, and the Unity Party for Democratic Development (PUDD) received only 3.63 percent and 3.13 percent of the votes respectively, making both parties fail to pass the electoral threshold of 4% to secure any seats. Besides, the other small parties received only less than one percent of the votes.
Of the 14 municipalities, CNRT dominated in 10 municipalities, winning the most votes, with the exception of three eastern municipalities won by FRETILIN. In addition, CNRT also won in all overseas polling stations, including Australia, Korea, the United Kingdom, and Portugal.
The Secretary General of the Democratic Party (PD), António da Conceição ‘Kalohan’, said that PD is willing to form the IX Constitutional Government with CNRT to serve the people and the nation.
So, the members of the 65 seats in the National Parliament will be nominated by CNRT and PD, who are expected to take office on 12 June.
The next Prime Minister of Timor-Leste will be appointed by the party with a parliamentary majority and many people expected Gusmão to be appointed Prime Minister for the period 2023-2028.
As STAE has concluded the municipal tabulation, the national tabulation will take place 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 Gazette of the President of the Republic, on june 7.
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.
Related News:https://en.tatoli.tl/2023/05/22/timorese-citizens-vote-for-a-new-parliament-and-government/11/
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
