The Government of Timor-Leste - The World Countries

Timor-Leste - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Timor-Leste, it was the name partly derives from the Indonesian and Malay word timur, meaning "east;" leste is the Portuguese word for "east," so "Timor-Leste" literally means "Eastern-East". The Government system in this country is the semi-presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 12 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) and 1 special adminstrative region* (regiao administrativa especial); Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Covalima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Lospalos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oe-Cusse Ambeno* (Pante Macassar), Viqueque

National symbols

Mount Ramelau.

The flag

The National flag of Timor-Leste has .

The National Anthem

Title
Lyric/music

More about the government of Timor-Leste

Constitution
Date of Independence	28 November 1975 (from Portugal); 20 May 2002 (from Indonesia)
National holiday	Restoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Legal system	civil law system based on the Portuguese model
International law organization participation	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002
Amendment process	Proposed by Parliament and parliamentary groups; consideration of amendments requires at least four-fifths majority approval by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by Parliament and promulgation by the president of the republic; passage of amendments to the republican form of government and the flag requires approval in a referendum
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	at least one parent must be a citizen of Timor-Leste
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	10 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President José RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2022)
Head of government	Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 1 July 2023)
Cabinet	Council of Ministers; ministers proposed to the prime minister by the coalition in the Parliament and sworn in by the president
Election/appointment process	president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister
Most recent election date	19 March 2022, with a runoff on 19 April 2022
Election results	2022: José RAMOS-HORTA elected president in second round - RAMOS-HORTA (CNRT) 62.1%, Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 37.9% 2017: Francisco GUTERRES elected president; Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 57.1%, António da CONCEICAO (PD) 32.5%, other 10.4%
Expected date of next election	April 2027
Legislative branch
Legislature name	National Parliament
Legislative structure	Unicameral
Number of seats	65 (all directly elected)
Electoral system	Proportional representation
Scope of elections	Full renewal
Term in office	5 years
Most recent election date	5/21/2023
Parties elected and seats per party	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)
Percentage of women in chamber	35.4%
Expected date of next election	May 2028
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Court of Appeals (consists of the court president and NA judges)
Judge selection and term of office	Court president appointed by the president of the republic from among the other court judges to serve a 4-year term; other court judges appointed - 1 by the Parliament and the others by the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, a body chaired by the court president and that includes mostly presidential and parliamentary appointees; other judges serve for life
Subordinate courts	Court of Appeal; High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court; district courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador José Luis GUTERRES (since 17 June 2024)
Chancery	4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 966-3202
FAX	[1] (202) 966-3205
Email address and website	[email protected]
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Bruce BEGNELL (since July 2025)
Embassy	Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili
Mailing address	8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
Telephone	(670) 332-4684, (670) 330-2400
FAX	(670) 331-3206
Email address and website	[email protected] https://tl.usembassy.gov/