Timor-Leste

National Parliament

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes

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)
21 May 2023
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
No information available
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections
31 May 2028
Number of seats at stake
65
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
17

Voter turnout

Registered voters
890,145
Voters
705,693
Voter turnout
79.3%

Results

About 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
5
Percentage of parties winning seats
29.4%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
47.7%
Alternation of power after elections
Not applicable
Number of parties in government
2
Names of parties in government
National Congress for the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT), Democratic Party (PD)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
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
33.8%
Women Directly Elected
22
Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
43
Total number of women after the election
22
Percentage of women after the election
33.8%
First-term parliamentarians
27
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
41.5%
Date of the first session
22 Jun 2023

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Maria Fernanda Lay (Female)
Date of birth: 10 Nov 1954
Political party
National Congress for the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT)
Date of election
22 Jun 2023

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No