DILI, 17 april 2024 (TATOLI) – In a regular meeting between the President of the Republic, Jose Ramos Horta, and the President of the National Parliament, Fernanda Lay, the two leaders discussed the proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission (CAC) law.
According to Fernanda Lay, the government has made an urgent request to modify the law in two key areas.
The new law would allow the Parliament to select CAC commissioners if there is no consensus on appointments, and the modifications would take away some of the current competencies of the CAC.
“The government has submitted an urgent request to the Parliament to make changes to the anti-corruption law,” Fernanda Lay told journalists after the meeting. “We expect the Parliament to approve it as early as next week.”
The potential modifications to the CAC law are part of the broader efforts by the Timorese government to strengthen its anti-corruption framework.
On monday, President Horta also held a meeting with Luis Sampaio, the Former Vice Commissioner of Timor-Leste’s Anti-Corruption Commission (CAC) at the Presidential Palace, where the two leaders discussed the president’s recent reactions and criticisms regarding the CAC’s roles and responsibilities.
Sampaio, who served in the CAC for over three years, provided the president with an in-depth overview of the commission’s progress, ongoing work, and the key challenges it has faced during his tenure. The meeting aimed to ensure that the president had a comprehensive understanding of the CAC’s activities and the complexities involved in its mandate to combat corruption in the country.
During the discussion, Sampaio suggested that President Horta engage in further dialogue with relevant government bodies and the National Parliament. He considered that having a debate with the relevant parties would help strengthen collaborative efforts and provide the necessary support to the CAC in fulfilling its responsibilities.
The dialogue between President Horta and Luis Sampaio serves as a testament to the government’s commitment to addressing corruption and upholding transparency in the nation’s affairs.
Last week, in an extraordinary plenary session, the National Parliament (PN) approved the government’s request to discuss the proposed amendment to the anti-corruption law as a matter of urgency.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
