East Timor polls close as voters seek end to years of deadlock
Dili, East Timor - Voters in East Timor flocked to polling stations on Sunday to cast their ballots in parliamentary elections, hoping for an end to years of political deadlock in Asia’s youngest country.
This is the fifth parliamentary poll since East Timor gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 after a 24-year occupation, with 65 national lawmakers to be elected to a five-year mandate.
Voters formed long queues, carrying umbrellas for shade as they patiently waited for their turn until polling stations closed at 3pm (0600 GMT).
“All people came to give their voices, because one voice can make a change,” 61-year-old Cesar dos Santos de Carvalho told AFP at a polling station in the capital Dili. “I hope the political party that I chose can put attention on health, education and agriculture, because these are the priority sectors.”
Nazario Gregorio Guterres, another voter, stressed the need to improve infrastructure in East Timor, one of the world’s poorest countries. “Just (look at) our capital city, Dili. It’s difficult to get electricity and clean water. The party I chose must fix roads, electricity, and provide clean water,” said Guterres.
The young democracy, a former Portuguese colony, has 890,000 registered voters, and a total of 17 parties are vying for seats, but the election is expected to mainly be a showdown between the two largest.
The Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor, also known as Fretilin, leads the coalition currently in power, while the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) is hoping to make a comeback.
CNRT is led by Xanana Gusmao, East Timor’s first president who was in office until 2007, while Fretilin’s leader is former prime minister Mari Alkatiri.
Both are considered independence-era icons and are veterans of East Timor politics, but they have been locked in a bitter feud for decades.
Younger voters make up a large part of the electorate in the country of 1.3mn people, 65 per cent of whom are under 30.
“I voted for CNRT. I support Xanana (Gusmao). He is... an influential character (who) leads with responsibility. He has integrity and loves this country,” said 27-year-old student Renaldo de Andrade.
CNRT won a presidential election last year after capturing 62 per cent of the vote in a run-off, with Nobel Peace laureate and Gusmao ally Jose Ramos-horta assuming the post. Gusmao is hoping to build on that momentum by taking over the legislature, but he may need to forge an alliance with smaller parties.