Timor-Leste

National Parliament

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
21.05.2023
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.05.2028
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
65
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
17

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
890,145
Votes Number of people who actually voted
705,693
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
79.28%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
The National Congress for the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT), led by Mr. Xanana Gusmão (the country’s first President), became the largest party, taking 31 seats but fell short of the required majority in the 65-member Parliament. The Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor-Leste (FRETILIN, see note 1) came second with 19 seats. The remaining seats were split among three parties. On 22 June, the newly elected Parliament held its first session and elected Ms. Maria Fernanda Lay (CNRT) as its new President, who thereby became the first women in Timor-Leste to assume the post.

On 1 July, the President appointed Mr. Gusmão as the new Prime Minister whose government is backed by the CNRT and the Democratic Party (PD). Mr. Gusmão succeeded Mr. José Maria Vasconcelos (known as Taur Matan Ruak, see note 2) of the People's Liberation Party (PLP). 

The 2023 elections were held under President José Ramos-Horta (CNRT), who had defeated President Francisco “Lú-Olo” Guterres (FRETILIN) in the 2022 presidential election. Shortly before the 2023 elections, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted a roadmap for Timor-Leste’s full membership, a decade after the country’s first application.

Note 1:
In 2023, former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri led FRETILIN, a party established by the former President Francisco “Lú-Olo” Guterres. 

Note 2:
Both the CNRT and the PD as well as the Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan (KHUNTO) had been in the Alliance of Change for Progress (AMP), the winner of the 2018 elections which had backed Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak. However, the AMP alliance collapsed in February 2020 due to rows over the budget. In May 2020, Mr. Taur Matan Ruak formed a new government with the support from FRETILIN, the PLP, the PD and KHUNTO.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
5
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
29.41%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
47.69%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
Not applicable
Note on the alternation of power
Presidential system. The composition of the coalition government changed between elections.
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
2
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
National Congress for the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT), Democratic Party (PD)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
National Congress for the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT) 31
Revolutionary Front for an independent East Timor (FRETILIN) 19
Democratic Party (PD) 6
Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan (KHUNTO) 5
People's Liberation Party (PLP) 4
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
43
Number of women elected
22
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
33.85%
Women Directly Elected
22

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
43
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
22
First-term parliamentarians The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
27
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
22.06.2023
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Maria Fernanda Lay (Female)
Political party
National Congress for the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT)
Date of election
22.06.2023