Timor-Leste

National Parliament

Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Unicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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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.
12.05.2018
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
26.01.2018
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Early election
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.05.2023
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

The number of candidates is not available from authoritative sources.
The number of women candidates is not available from authoritative sources.
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.
8

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
784,286
Votes Number of people who actually voted
675,721
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
86.16%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
The Alliance of Change for Progress (AMP, see note 1), led by former President and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, won a majority in the 65-member Parliament. It defeated the Revolutionary Front for an independent East Timor (FRETILIN) led by President Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres, which had led a minority government with the Democratic Party (PD) after the 2017 elections (see note 2). During the 2018 election campaign, the major parties promised to develop education and healthcare and to boost the agriculture and tourism sectors.

Note 1:
The AMP comprises Mr. Gusmao's National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT), the People's Liberation Party (PLP) and the Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan (KHUNTO), a youth party established before the 2017 elections.

Note 2:
The minority government, led by Mr. Mari Alkatiri (FRETILIN) - the country's first prime minister after independence from Indonesia in 2002 - was unable to pass key legislation including the country's budget in the Parliament controlled by the CNRT-led opposition. After the budget was rejected twice by Parliament in October and December 2017, the President dissolved Parliament in January 2018 and called for fresh elections for May, less than 10 months after the previous elections.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
4
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.
50%
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.
53.85%
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.
Yes
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
1
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Alliance of Change for Progress (AMP)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
Alliance of Change for Progress (AMP) 35
Revolutionary Front for an independent East Timor (FRETILIN) 23
Democratic Development Forum (FDD) 4
Democratic Party (PD) 3
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%
Note on the Distribution of seats according to sex
- In the 2018 elections, 22 women were elected. The number of women increased to 25 prior to the first session of the newly elected legislature held in June.
- Between September 2018 and early March 2019, there were 26 women due to a temporary replacement of a male member by a female substitute member.
- The number of women decreased to 25 women thereafter.
Sources
National Parliament (29.05.2018)
https://www.parlamento.tl/node/381
National Election Commission
Reuters
SBS
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
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.
13.06.2018
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.
Arão Noé Amaral (Male)
Political party
National Congress for the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT)
Date of election
13.06.2018