Xanana Gusmão sworn in as Timor-Leste’s new Prime Minister

DILI, 01 june 2023 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s Charismatic leader and former President of the Republic, José Alexandre Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão has today been sworn in as the new prime minister in a formal ceremony, replacing his predecessor Taur Matan Ruak who has been served this position since 22 june 2018.

Gusmão was sworn in as Prime Minister following his party, the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) won 31 seats in the May 21 parliamentary elections, forming a majority with the Democratic Party (DP) with six seats.

Gusmão, 77, previously served in that position from 2007 to 2015 and he also was the first country president since its independence from 20 May 2002 to 20 May 2007.

Hundreds of people gathered on the grounds of the Presidential Palace, including special foreign delegations from neighboring and ASEAN countries to witness the handover ceremony of the incoming and outgoing government.

The Swearing-in Ceremony of the IX Constitutional Government was presided over by the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta.

In his opening speech at the inauguration ceremony, President Horta pledged that he would monitor the performance of each ministry.

“Within a few months, we will be able to make an initial assessment of the performance of each member of the IX Government. And, as Prime Minister Gusmão has said very clearly, those who do not execute their ministerial and/or sectoral program will be replaced,” Horta said in his speech at the inauguration ceremony of the IX Government, at the Presidential Palace, in Dili, today.

Horta highlighted that the mission of the members of Parliament, members of the Government, advisors, and staff is to serve the people and they serve the people by implementing the program approved by the National Parliament with promptness, competence, and honesty.

“Some first recommendations … serve with honesty, humility, professionalism; contribute to the integrated and sustainable development of the country,” Horta said.

Horta recommended that the new government place Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN as its top priority.

“Our accession to ASEAN is a national strategic goal to which we must mobilize all national attention and resources. In terms of national and international policy, ASEAN membership takes precedence over all other priorities.”

Integration into ASEAN provides opportunities for Timor-Leste to fulfill its interests and strategic development goals, namely investment in strategic pillars that would significantly improve the health, education, and quality of life of our people.

Horta also recommended the National Parliament to create a Parliamentary Committee for ASEAN, in order to accelerate the necessary legislative process, including treaty ratification: “Every effort should be made so that Timor-Leste’s formal accession to ASEAN is celebrated during Indonesia’s Presidency, that is, in 2023 or 2024.”

Before he concluded his remarks, Horta congratulated outgoing Prime Minister Ruak for his performance in leading the VIII Government since 2018.

The Head of State also saluted Speaker of the House of the Fifth Legislature (2018-2023), Aniceto Longuinhos Guterres, for his professional work during his mandate.

In his speech at the swearing-in ceremony, Gusmão outlined the main priorities that his Government will focus on in the first year of its mandate, with a view to building a better and more prosperous future that the Timorese people deserve.

One of Gusmão’s top priorities is to bring the Greater Sunrise pipeline to Timor-Leste, saying the Greater Sunrise oil and gas development on the country’s South Coast petroleum project is economically viable.

“One of our national priorities is settling maritime and land borders with Indonesia,” Gusmão said.

The charismatic leader also raised that the importance of implementing the decentralization of power, the creation of the Supreme Court of Justice, the evaluation of the National Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030, the improvement of the quality of education, the promotion of young talents, the implementation of the Timor-Leste South Submarine Cable (CSLT), bringing electricity to rural communities, ensuring economic growth through the development of productive sectors, empowering women entrepreneurs, creating employment, improving human resources with a view to Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN, strengthening bilateral cooperation with Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) and neighboring countries such as Indonesia and Australia, etc.

Gusmão urged his cabinet members to serve the people with responsibility, dedication, honesty, persistence, and courage.

“On behalf of the IX Constitutional Government, I pledge to govern responsibly. And I call on all members of my cabinet to perform their duties accordingly. You have been appointed ministers to serve the people, but not to have luxury vehicles. Those who can’t do the job would have to leave the office and go home,” Gusmão stressed.

Known as “Avo Nana” and “Maun Boot Xanana”, Gusmão is well known to the Timorese people for his compassion, dedication, humility, charisma, love and populist leadership.

Below are the names of the members of the IX Constitutional Government:

Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão is sworn in as Prime Minister;
Francisco Kalbuadi Lay is appointed as Deputy Prime Minister Coordinating Minister of Economics Affairs and Minister of Tourism and the Environment;
Mariano Assanami Sabino Lopes is as appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Rural Development Affairs;
Hermenegildo Antonio Cabral Pereira is as appointed Minister for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers;
Santina José Rodrigues Ferreira Viegas Cardoso is appointed as Minister of Finance;
Bendito dos Santos Freitas is appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation;
Amándio de Sá is appointed as Minister of Justice;
Tomás do Rosário Cabral is appointed as Minister of State Administration;
Elia A. A. dos Reis Amaral is appointed as Minister of Health;
Dulce de Jesus Soares is appointed as Minister of Education;
José Honório da Costa Pereira Geronimo appointed as Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture;
Gil da Costa Monteiro is appointed as Minister for National Liberation Combatants Affairs;
Samuel Marçal is appointed as Minister of Public Works;
Miguel Marque Conçalves is appointed as Minister of Transports and Telecommunications;
Filipus Nino Pereira is appointed as Minister of Commerce and Industry;
Marcos da Cruz is appointed as Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry;
Rosario Gomes is appointed as Minister of Defense;
Francisco da Costa Monteiro is appointed as Minister of Petroleum;
Francisco da Costa Guterres is appointed as Minister of Interior;
Veronica das Dores is appointed as Minister of Solidarity, Social, and Inclusion;
Nelio Isac Sarmento is appointed as Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture;
Francisco de Sousa is appointed as Minister of Strategic Investment;
Aderito Hugo da Costa is appointed as Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Affairs;
Helder Lopes is appointed as Deputy Health Minister;
Milena Maria da Costa Rangel is appointed as Deputy Minister for ASEAN Affairs;
Paulo Silva dos Remedios is appointed as Deputy Minister for Institutional Empowerment;
Jose dos Reis Magno is appointed as Deputy Minister for Strengthening Health Institutions;
Julio do Carmo is appointed as Deputy Minister of Infrastructure;
Jacinto Rigoberto de Deus is appointed as Deputy Minister of State Administration;
Augusto Junior Trindade is appointed as Deputy Minister of Commerce;
Céu Brites is appointed as Deputy Minister of Solidarity, Social, and Inclusion;
Flavio Brandão is appointed as Deputy Minister of Hospital Operations;
Evina de Sousa Carvalho is as appointed Secretary of State for Equality;
Expedito Dias Ximenes is appointed as the Secretary of State for Social Communications;
Jaime Xavier Lopes is appointed as the Secretary of State for Land and Properties;
Domingos Lemos Lopes is appointed as the Secretary of State for High School and Technical Schools;
Santos Noronha is appointed as the Secretary of State for Electricity, Water, and Sanitation;
Jorge Soares Cristovão is appointed as the Secretary of State for Arts and Culture;
Domingos da Costa dos Santos is appointed as the Secretary of State for Fisheries;
Jose Vieira de Araujo is appointed as the Secretary of State for Livestock;
Fernandinho Vieira is appointed as the Secretary of State for Forestry;
Arsenio Pereira da Silva is appointed as the Secretary of State for Cooperatives;
Rogerio Araujo Mendonca is appointed as the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment;
Mateus dos Santos Tallo is appointed as the Secretary of State for Rural Development;
Germano Santa Brites Dias is appointed as the Secretary of State for Toponomy and State Urban Organizations;
Mariano Reis is appointed as the Secretary of State for Civil Protection;
Cesar da Silva dos Santos is appointed as the Secretary of State for Veterans.