East Timorese cabinet led by Taur Matan Ruak
VIII Constitutional Government
Date formed 22 June 2018 (2018-06-22 ) Date dissolved 1 July 2023 (2023-07-01 ) Presidents Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak No. of ministers22 June 2018–12 May 2020: 1 Prime Minister 11 other Ministers 7 Deputy Ministers 10 Secretaries of State 24 June 2020–1 July 2023: 1 Prime Minister 2 Deputy Prime Ministers 17 other Ministers 12 Deputy Ministers 11 Secretaries of State Member parties 22 June 2018–25 May 2020: Alliance for Change and Progress (CNRT –PLP –KHUNTO ) 24 June 2020–1 July 2023: Fretilin –PLP–KHUNTO–PD Status in legislature 22 June 2018–17 January 2020: Majority 24 June 2020–21 May 2023: Majority Election 2018 Predecessor VII Constitutional Government Successor IX Constitutional Government
The VIII Constitutional Government (Portuguese : VIII Governo Constitucional , Tetum : VIII Governu Konstitusionál ) was the eighth Constitutional Government (administration or cabinet ) under the Constitution of East Timor . Formed on 22 June 2018, and restructured in mid-2020, it was led by the country's seventh Prime Minister , Taur Matan Ruak , and was replaced by the IX Constitutional Government on 1 July 2023.
Initial (AMP) composition (22 June 2018–24 June 2020) The Government at its swearing in Initially, the VIII Constitutional Government was drawn from and supported by a coalition known as the Alliance for Change and Progress (AMP), which was made up of the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT), the People's Liberation Party (PLP) and Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan (KHUNTO).
The Ministers, Deputy Ministers[note 1] and Secretaries of State appointed to form the government as from 22 June 2018 until the government was restructured in mid-2020 were:[2] [3]
Ministers Deputy Ministers Party Deputy Minister[note 1] Portrait Portfolio CNRT Sara Lobo Brites Deputy Minister of Finance CNRT Abílio José Caetano Deputy Minister of State Administration(22 June 2018 – 25 May 2020) [5] CNRT Élia dos Reis Amaral [de ] Deputy Minister of Health(22 June 2018 – 3 April 2020) [6] PLP Bonifácio dos Reis [de ] Deputy Minister of Health KHUNTO João Zacarias Freitas Soares Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports PLP Signi Verdial [de ] Deputy Minister for Social Solidarity KHUNTO Nicolau Lino Freitas Belo Deputy Minister of Public Works
Secretaries of State Party Secretary of State Portrait Portfolio KHUNTO Julião da Silva Secretary of State of Vocational Training and Employment CNRT Arsénio Pereira da Silva Secretary of State for Cooperatives(22 June 2018 – 25 May 2020) [5] PLP Demetrio do Amaral de Carvalho Secretary of State for the Environment PLP Merício Juvenal dos Reis Akara Secretary of State for Social Communications KHUNTO Mário Ximenes Secretary of State for Land and Property CNRT Nélio Isaac Sarmento [de ] Secretary of State for Youth and Sport(22 June 2018 – 25 May 2020) [5] PLP Teófilo Caldas Secretary of State for Arts and Culture KHUNTO Gil da Costa Monteiro Oan Soru Secretary of State for the Affairs of Combatants of National Liberation Independent Alexandrino de Araújo Secretary of State for Civil Protection PLP Maria José da Fonseca Monteiro de Jesus [de ] Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion
Restructured composition (24 June 2020–1 July 2023) The restructured government, 24 June 2020 Following a breakdown of the AMP coalition during the first few months of 2020, the government was restructured on 12 May 2020,[4] [5] new officials were appointed on 29 May[7] [8] and 24 June 2020.[9]
At the swearing-in ceremony held on 29 May 2020, the Prime Minister said that the swearing-in of the government's new members aimed to "ensure the restoration of governing normality".[10] He added that the Government intended:
"... with this reshaping, to pave the way for political stability that allows the contribution and involvement of all Timorese, regardless of the ideology they have, the party of which they are members or the aspirations they have towards the country."[10]
He also said that:
"...the construction of the future of our nation does not dispense with the contribution of any Timorese and it is with awareness of this fact that the Eight Constitutional Government opens itself to the participation of new political forces in an effort of concertation and dialogue that is fundamental to ensure that Timor-Leste and the Timorese can aspire to a more prosperous and happy future."[10]
Since the government's restructure, the Ministers, Deputy Ministers[note 1] and Secretaries of State in the government have been as stated in the tables below.[11] [12]
In March 2022, six officials in the government were replaced. The first four replacement officials were sworn in on 22 March 2022,[13] [14] [15] [16] and the remaining two on 31 March 2022.[17] Details of all of those officials, including the dates of their cessation or commencement in office, are included in the tables below.[14] [15] [16] [17]
On 1 July 2023, the government was replaced by the IX Constitutional Government .[18]
Ministers Deputy Ministers Party Deputy Minister[note 1] Portrait Portfolio Independent Sara Lobo Brites Deputy Minister of Finance(22 June 2018 – 22 March 2022) [15] [16] António Freitas [de ] Deputy Minister of Finance(22 March 2022 – July 2023) [15] [16] KHUNTO Julião da Silva Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation KHUNTO José Edmundo Caetano Deputy Minister of Justice Fretilin Lino de Jesus Torrezão Deputy Minister of State Administration PLP Bonifácio Maucoli dos Reis Deputy Minister of Health KHUNTO António Guterres Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sport PLP Signi Chandrawati Verdial Deputy Minister of Social Solidarity KHUNTO Nicolau Lino Freitas Belo Deputy Minister of Public Works Fretilin Inácia da Conceição Teixeira Deputy Minister of Community and Cultural Tourism Fretilin Domingos Lopes Antunes Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry KHUNTO Abílio Xavier de Araújo Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries KHUNTO António Armindo Deputy Minister of the Interior
Secretaries of State Party Secretary of State Portrait Portfolio KHUNTO Alarico de Rosário Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment Fretilin Elizário Ferreira Secretary of State for Cooperatives PLP Demetrio do Amaral de Carvalho Secretary of State for the Environment PLP Merício Juvenal dos Reis "Akara" Secretary of State for Communications KHUNTO Mário Ximenes Secretary of State for Land and Property(22 June 2018 – 31 March 2022) [17] KHUNTO Eldino Rodrigues dos Santos [de ] Secretary of State for Land and Property(22 March 2022 – 1 July 2023) [17] Fretilin Abrão Saldanha Secretary of State for Youth and Sport PLP Teófilo Caldas Secretary of State for Arts and Culture KHUNTO Gil da Costa Monteiro "Oan Soru" Secretary of State for the Affairs of Combatants of National Liberation(22 June 2018 – c. 14 March 2022 ) [14] [15] [16] Júlio da Conceição "Loro Mesak" Secretary of State for the Affairs of Combatants of National Liberation(22 March 2022 – 1 July 2023) [15] [16] KHUNTO Elídio de Araújo Secretary of State for Fisheries KHUNTO Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Martins Secretary of State for Civil Protection PLP Maria José da Fonseca Monteiro de Jesus [de ] Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion(22 June 2018 – 31 March 2022) [17] PLP Maria do Rosário Fátima Correia [de ] Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion(22 March 2022 – 1 July 2023) [17]
References Notes Further reading Cardoso, João da Cruz (13 April 2021). "Dili floods a costly consequence of poor urban planning" . The Interpreter . Lowy Institute . Retrieved 16 January 2022 . —————————— (16 November 2021). "Planning for progress in Timor-Leste" . The Interpreter . Lowy Institute. Retrieved 16 January 2022 . Da Costa, Nelson (10 March 2020). "East Timor coalition ready to form government led by Xanana Gusmao" . The Jakarta Post . Retrieved 20 January 2022 . Graça Feijó, Rui (24 December 2020). "Timor-Leste's COVID-19 success and sweeping political change" . East Asia Forum . Retrieved 20 January 2022 . Guardian staff and agencies (25 February 2020). "Timor-Leste prime minister offers resignation after political coalition collapses" . The Guardian . Retrieved 17 September 2022 . Kehoe, John (1 August 2022). "Leaked report backs East Timor for Woodside's Sunrise gas project" . Australian Financial Review . Retrieved 2 August 2022 . Kingsbury, Damien (13 December 2018). "Hard times ahead for a politically divided Timor-Leste" . East Asia Forum . Retrieved 20 January 2022 .————————— (1 January 2022). "Timor-Leste defies the odds for stability in 2021" . East Asia Forum . Retrieved 20 January 2022 . Leach, Michael (14 August 2018a). "A first test for Timor-Leste's cohabitants" . Inside Story . Retrieved 30 November 2020 . ——————— (14 December 2018b). "In Timor-Leste, an eventful year ends in tension" . Inside Story . Retrieved 30 November 2020 . ——————— (20 January 2020). "In Timor-Leste, failed budget sparks a political crisis" . The Interpreter . Lowy Institute. Retrieved 30 December 2021 . ——————— (24 February 2020). "Back to the future in Dili" . Inside Story . Retrieved 30 November 2020 . ——————— (31 March 2020). "A political impasse in Timor-Leste as coronavirus looms" . The Interpreter . Lowy Institute. Retrieved 30 December 2021 . ——————— (5 May 2020). "Xanana Gusmão's new parliamentary coalition collapses" . Inside Story . Retrieved 30 November 2020 . ——————— (2 June 2020). "Out of turmoil, a new majority in Timor-Leste's parliament" . Inside Story . Retrieved 30 November 2020 . ——————— (19 February 2021). "East Timorese politics in flux" . Inside Story . Retrieved 26 February 2021 . ——————— (23 April 2021). "Timor-Leste's floods and Covid lockdown aggravate political rifts" . The Interpreter . Lowy Institute. Retrieved 30 December 2021 . ——————— (24 January 2022). "Timor-Leste's floods and Covid lockdown aggravate political rifts" . The Interpreter . Lowy Institute. Retrieved 24 January 2022 . Magalhães, Fidelis (19 May 2021). "Lessons from the recent cyclone in Timor-Leste" . The Interpreter . Lowy Institute. Retrieved 16 January 2022 .Neves, Guteriano (3 April 2020). "Timor-Leste: The consequences of Covid-19" . The Interpreter . Lowy Institute. Retrieved 16 January 2022 . Scott, Jason (29 August 2019). "A $12 Billion Gas Project Could Make or Break This Young Nation" . Bloomberg.com . Retrieved 16 June 2022 . Sim, Tze Wei (19 November 2019). "Old Chinese, new Chinese and the China factor in Timor-Leste" . ThinkChina . Retrieved 16 January 2022 . Sjöholm, Fredrik (19 September 2020). "Timor-Leste's precarious route to development" . East Asia Forum . Retrieved 20 January 2022 . External links
Government ministers and ministries of East Timor
Ministers Ministries