DILI, 28 january 2025 (TATOLI) – Just 10 months after taking office, Gregório Saldanha has announced his resignation as the President of the Dili Municipal Authority.
Saldanha said that, before announcing his resignation, he had sent his letter of resignation to the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and “the letter was approved”.
“I would like to make it clear to the public that today I am resigning as President of the Dili Municipal Authority,’ Saldanha told reporters at a press conference, in Dili, today.
During the press conference, Saldanha provided six main reasons that triggered his resignation.
“Financial and administrative irregularities, lack of administrative autonomy, auditing problems, lack of coordination, and disagreement over the recent eviction were among the main reasons for my resignation,” said Saldanha.
“In short, these are the points that prevented me from carrying my duty with integrity,” said Saldanha.
Despite his resignation, Saldanha thanked the government, especially Prime Minister Gusmão, for the trust placed in him.
Following Saldanha’s resignation, the Ministry of State Administration (MAE) appointed the Director General of Decentralization and Local Power, António Guterres, as Acting President of the Dili Municipal Authority.
Meanwhile, the new President of the Dili Municipal Authority will be appointed by Prime Minister Gusmão in the near future, said MAE.
On january 13, 2025, Saldanha presented his resignation letter to the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral.
Saldanha, 62, was sworn in as President of the Dili Municipal Authority by the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, on March 1, 2024.
Gregório Saldanha was one of the youth leaders responsible for organizing the peaceful demonstration at Santa Cruz cemetery in 1991.
TATOLI
