Coalition government breaks out in Timor-Leste

Endless political instability continue

By Raimundos Oki
Dili – Timor-Leste  – The eighth coalition government called the Majority Alliance Change to Progress (AMP), led by Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak, has been divided apart because the State budget for 2020 has been blocked by the opposition and government parties.
The results of the 2020 budget vote which was debated for three days from 15 to 17 January 2020 finally did not qualify because only get 13 valid votes, 15 votes contra and 25 abstentions.

Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak said the situation in the National Parliament had shown State management in difficult situation.

Earlier, Vice President of the CNRT faction in Parliament Patrocino Fernandes asked the prime minister to immediately settle eight cabinet members who had not been appointed since 2018 until now, but PM Matan Ruak replied that Parliament was not a place to discuss pending cabinet members. PM Matan Ruak also asked all people to be calm in order to give leaders the opportunity to find solutions to this situation.

Member of Parliament from the KHUNTO party Olinda Guterres stated that she had voted favorably for the 2020 State budget for national development.

"I'm sorry in the AMP coalition. If I knew it would happen like this, I would not want to join the coalition. In the future you want to call me back too, I will not want to, "Olinda said. 

The head of the opposition FRETILIN faction Aniceto Guteres said last year's State budget was huge but the government failed to keep its promise to open 60,000 new jobs each year.
The 2020 state budget proposal which was not ratified in the national Parliament amounts to $ Billion 1,668.

According to the comments that there are several alternatives to be able to solve this problem that is in 60 days the government can bring a new budget proposal to parliament to be discussed again, or PM present a letter of resignation, and the President of the Republic calls on political parties to form a 9th government, and if these two alternatives do not occur during 60 days, the President of the Republic will dissolve the National Parliament and announce another fresh election.

However, Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak said that now he is waiting for all decisions from the President of the Republic on the current situation.

"Now we are waiting for the President of the Republic," PM Taur told reporters at the national parliament building.

According to him, the decision to announce another election or call political parties to form a new government depends on the decision of the President of the Republic.

Meanwhile, the President National Parliament Arão Noe de Jesus asking to the Prime-Minister Taur Matan Ruak do not let the government fall into economic crisis.