DILI, 30 de junho de 2023 (TATOLI) – The outgoing Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, and the Prime Minister-designate, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, along with the President of the Democratic Republic, José Ramos Horta, met today to discuss the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government.
During the meeting, they discussed the handover ceremony, including the handing over of the report of the outgoing government’s five-year term.
“I held a meeting with the outgoing Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak and the Prime Minister Designate Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão to talk about the inauguration ceremony of the new government. The outgoing Prime Minister and his cabinet members will hand over the report of their five-year mandate to the new government,” the Head of State told reporters after the meeting at the Presidential Palace.
“Ruak has ordered the outgoing ministers to cooperate with the new government to ensure a smooth transition between the outgoing and incoming government,” Horta said.
The outgoing ministers will directly deliver the report of their mandate to their successors, including recommendations for the new ministers to continue carrying out some works that had been done by the outgoing government.
The Head of State said, therefore, the outgoing ministers will be available to collaborate with the new government, if necessary.
Horta thanked Ruak for his leadership in leading the government through difficult times like Covid-19 and the flash floods.
“Ruak will be available to support the IX Constitutional Government with his valuable experiences and thoughts through any meeting in the future,” Horta stressed.
It was President Horta who was able to bring his two brothers ‘Gusmão’ and ‘Ruak’ together to end the political tensions between the parties (CNRT and PLP) of both national leaders.
“The time has come for two great fighters of this nation and the people to finally meet after a long period of time. One is a strategist and the other is a military tactician, but both have become politicians with a rich experience over the past 20 years in nation-building. They know when to talk to each other,” he explained.
Outgoing Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak pledged that his party is willing to support the government of Prime Minister-designate, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
