Government and Politics of Timor-Leste

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque

Legal System

UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law (2002)

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Timor-Leste dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President José RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2022); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 1 June 2023); note - Xanana GUSMAO, a founding father of the nation and its first president, returned to the role of prime minister following his party's victory in the 2023 legislative elections cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 March 2022, with a runoff on 19 April 2022; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is appointed prime minister by the president election results: José RAMOS-HORTA elected president in second round; percent of vote in runoff - José RAMOS-HORTA 62.1%, Francisco GUTERRES 37.9%

Legislative Branch

unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an exceptional basis elections: (next to be held in 2006); direct elections for national parliament were never held; elected delegates to the national convention adopted a constitution and named themselves legislators instead of having elections; hence the exceptional numbers for this term of the national parliament. election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one judge to be appointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by Superior Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is established, Court of Appeals is highest court

Political Parties

Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [Antonio XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente da Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; Liberal Party or PL [leader NA]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Francisco Guterres Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader Pedro da COSTA]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT [Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or PTT [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-Santos DA COSTA]

Head of State

President Jose RAMOS-HORTA; note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections

Head of Government

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO

Cabinet

Council of Ministers

Elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 April 2007 with run-off on 8 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012); following elections, president appoints leader of majority party or majority coalition as prime minister

Election Results

Jose RAMOS-HORTA elected president; percent of vote - Jose RAMOS-HORTA 69.2%, Francisco GUTTERES 30.8%

Constitution

22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)

Independence

28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia

National Holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

International Organization Participation

AsDB, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRES chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: 202 965-1515 FAX: 202 965-1517 consulate(s) general: New York (the ambassador resides in New York) (2004)

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili mailing address: Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250 telephone: (670) 332-4684 FAX: (670) 331-3206

Capital City

Dili

Location

8 35 S, 125 36 E

Time Difference

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

The U.S. Embassy in Dili Avenida de Portugal Praia dos Coqueiros Dili Timor-Leste tel: (670) 332-4684 fax: (670) 331-3206.

Military Branches

Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Army, Navy (Armada)

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-month service obligation; no conscription but, as of May 2013, introduction of conscription was under discussion