Timor-Leste has a new Prime Minister, medical doctor Dr. Rui Maria de Araujo, who will lead the thirty-eight (38) members of newly appointed Sixth (VI) Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste until the next Legislative Elections in 2017.
Despite being a member of FRETILIN, the party in the Opposition to the Coalition of Parties – CNRT, PD and Frente Mudansa – that composed the Fifth (V) Government, Prime Minister Araujo said the new government will represent national unity.
“It’s a privilege to stand before this government, a government which ultimately represents national unity and political consensus,” said Prime Minister Araujo in a media statement, last week, after meeting President Taur Matan Ruak (TMR), in Dili.
Dr. Rui Araujo replaces as Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, historical resistance leader Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão who submitted his resignation letter to President TMR to allow for a younger generation of leaders to lead the country.
FRETILIN said it would not oppose or impede Dr. Rui Araujo from leading the new government composed almost entirely by coalition parties members.
“Our big brother Xanana himself invited him [Dr. Rui Araujo] to replace him as the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste because he is a capable person,” said FRETILIN Member of Parliament MP Josefa Alvares Pereira Soares.
MP Soares said Dr. Araujo as the Prime Minister will not represent the FRETILIN Party but will be taking on the top job as a Timorese who wishes to contribute to national development.
“In our [FRETILIN] Con-gress, we decided we would not prevent anyone from contributing towards the nation’s development.”
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão despite stepping down as Pri-me Minister will continue to serve in the new government as a Mentoring Minister and Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment.
CNRT MP Virginia Ana Belo said the whole structure of her party supports Dr. Rui Araujo’s appointment to the position of Prime Minister.
“We explained to our militants at the grassroots level by phone about the decision; they understand and agree,” MP Belo said.
She said Gusmao will continue to support the new Prime Minister in the transition so there is a trans-formation of leadership from the old generation to a new generation of leaders.
Resident Cesar dos Santos when asked what he thought about the changeover of Prime Ministers said he was not concerned with Gusmao’s resignation and hand over of the top job to a member of the opposition FRETILIN party as long as the people can continue to live peacefully.
“We don’t want conflict. We just want to live in peace so we can continue to make a living,” said resident dos Santos.
He urged the new government to focus on fixing the roads, provide clean water and electricity to all because many people still don’t have access to these basic needs.
Following a dialogue between the 38 newly appointed members of the VI Constitutional Government on 11 February 2015, two core principles were emphasized to be achieved: coordination across the whole of Government to achieve the objectives of the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030; and an emphasis on achieving results.
