Prime Minister of East Timor

head of the East Timorese Government

The Prime Minister of Timor-Leste (Portuguese: Primeiro-Ministro, Tetum: Xanana 2011 (cropped).jpg-Ministru) is the head of government in East Timor. The President is the head of state and appoints the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister of East Timor
Portuguese: Primeiro-Ministro
Tetum: Primeiru-Ministru
Coat of arms of East Timor
Incumbent
Xanana Gusmão

since 1 July 2023
StyleHis/Her Excellency
AppointerPresident of East Timor
Term length4 years
Inaugural holderNicolau dos Reis Lobato
Formation28 November 1975

List of prime ministers of East Timor

Political parties
  •   National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT)
  •   People's Liberation Party (PLP)
Other factions

Prime Minister of East Timor during War for Independence

No.PortraitElectionName
(Birth–Death)
Term of OfficeTime in officePolitical Party
1 Nicolau dos Reis Lobato
(1946–1978)
28 November 19757 December 19759 daysFretilin

Prime ministers of the Democratic Republic of East Timor

No.PortraitElectionName
(Birth–Death)
Term of OfficeTime in officePolitical Party
2 2001Mari Alkatiri
(1949–)
20 May 200226 June 2006[1]4 years,

36 days

Fretilin
3 José Ramos-Horta
(1949–)
26 June 200619 May 2007327 daysIndependent
4 Estanislau da Silva
(1952–)
19 May 20078 August 200781 daysFretilin
5 2007

2012

Xanana Gusmão
(1944–)
8 August 200716 February 20157 years,

190 days

CNRT
6 2017Rui Maria de Araújo
(1964–)
16 February 201515 September 20172 years,

212 days

Fretilin
(2) Mari Alkatiri
(1949–)
15 September 201722 June 2018280 daysFretilin
7 2018Taur Matan Ruak
(1956–)
22 June 20181 July 20235 years, 9 daysPLP
(5) 2023Xanana Gusmão
(1944–)
1 July 2023Incumbent303 daysCNRT