National Parliament of East Timor

National Parliament of East Timor Tetum: Parlamentu Nasionál Portuguese: Parlamento Nacional de Timor-Leste
Type
Type	Unicameral
Leadership
President of the National Parliament	Fernando Lasama de Araújo, PD since August 8, 2007
Structure
Members	65 MPs
Political groups	FReTiLIn (21) CNRT (18) PSD–ASDT (11) PD (8) PUN (3) Aliança Democratica (KOTA–PPT) (2) UNDeRTim (2)
Length of term	5 years
Authority	Title III, Part III, Constitution of East Timor
Elections
Voting system	Parallel voting/Party-list proportional representation
Last election	June 30, 2007
Meeting place
National Parliament Building, Dili

Parliament of Timor-Leste in Dili on June 21, 2002.

East Timor

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of East Timor

Constitution President José Ramos-Horta Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão 2006 political crisis National Parliament Political parties Elections: Parl.: 2007 Pres.: 2012 Districts Subdistricts Sucos Foreign relations Foreign Aid to Timor Leste

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The National Parliament of East Timor (Tetum: Parlamentu Nasionál, Portuguese: Parlamento Nacional de Timor-Leste) is the unicameral national legislature in East Timor. It was created in 2001 as the Constituent Assembly while the country was still under the supervision of the United Nations, but renamed itself to the National Parliament with the attaining of national independence on May 20, 2002.

The number of members of the parliament may range between 52 and 65; it started with 88 members, due to the Constituent Assembly's decision to reform as the National Parliament rather than holding new elections. All members serve five-year terms. Members are elected by a parallel/party-list system. The parliament sits in the National Parliament Building in the capital, Dili, which was specially refurbished with AUD 1.8 million of Australian aid assistance in the leadup to independence.

As with many other nations, the party most able to gain a working majority in the parliament forms a government. The members of parliament subsequently elect the head of government, the Prime Minister, who is currently Xanana Gusmão. Legislation in some areas may be vetoed by the directly elected head of state, the President, though this is largely a ceremonial role.

There is universal franchise for all citizens over the age of 17, although voting is not compulsory.

Presidents of the National Parliament of East Timor

• Francisco Guterres (2002–2007)
• Fernando Lasama de Araújo (2007–Present)

Latest election

e • d Summary of the 30 June 2007 East Timorese parliamentary election results

Parties	Votes	%	Seats
Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Frente Revolucionária do Timor-Leste Independente)	120,592	29.02	21
National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (Congresso Nacional da Reconstrução Timorense)	100,175	24.10	18
PSD–ASDT Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) Timorese Social Democratic Association (Associaçao Social-Democrata de Timor)	65,358	15.73	11
Democratic Party (Partido Democrático)	46,946	11.30	8
National Unity Party (Partido Unidade Nacional)	18,896	4.55	3
Democratic Alliance (Aliança Democratica) Association of Timorese Heroes (Klibur Oan Timor Asuwain) People's Party of Timor (Partido do Povo de Timor)	13,294	3.20	2
National Unity of Timorese Resistance (União Nacional Democrática de Resistência Timorense)	13,247	3.19	2
Timorese Nationalist Party (Partido Nasionalista Timorense)	10,057	2.42	0
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Party (Partido Democratika Republica de Timor)	7,718	1.86	0
Republican Party (Partidu Republikanu)	4,408	1.06	0
Christian Democratic Party (Partido Democrata Cristão)	4,300	1.03	0
Socialist Party of Timor (Partido Socialista de Timor)	3,982	0.96	0
Timorese Democratic Union (União Democrática Timorense)	3,753	0.90	0
Millennium Democratic Party (Partido Milénio Democrático)	2,878	0.69	0
Total (turnout 80.5%)	415,604	100.00	65
Source: CNE

See also

• Members of the National Parliament of East Timor, 2001-2006

External links

• News reports about the East Timor National Parliament
• About the Parliament

Coordinates: 8°33′17″S 125°34′43″E / 8.55472°S 125.57861°E / -8.55472; 125.57861