Coalition consolidates milestone East Timor election
Tightly contested parliamentary elections on July 7 resulted in a hung parliament. Prime Minister and former resistance leader Xanana Gusmao's CNRT gained 12 seats, for a total of 30, and historical independence party Fretilin made a smaller gain of four seats, boosting their representation to 25. The Democratic Party (DP), founded by members of the clandestine youth resistance, kept its eight seats, and a breakaway from Fretilin, Frente-Mundaca, took two. Rather than form a 'grand coalition' with Fretilin, CNRT has announced that it will partner with DP and Frente-Mundaca to form a government, which is likely to be installed in early August. At least one person was killed in what the UN describes as "scattered incidents of unrest" after CNRT announced its partners for a new coalition government.
Our judgement
Parliamentary elections, largely free and fair, were an important test of the fledgling democracy. However, the real test will be how the National Congress for the Reconstruction of East Timor (CNRT) coalition uses the Petroleum Fund to promote developement and whether Fretilin continues to perform as an effective opposition.
See today's EAST TIMOR: Coalition consolidates milestone election.