Political party: Asia’s youngest nation prepares for national elections

East Timorese supporters of the Fretilin party participate in a political rally in Aileu on 15 April, 2018. The South-east Asian country is holding its new parliamentary campaign from 10 April to 10 May. President Francisco Guterres dissolved Parliament on 26 January, ending a monthslong political impasse that plunged Asia’s youngest democracy into a post-election stalemate. Fighting among lawmakers has paralysed the country and has left it on the brink of its worst period of political instability in more than a decade. East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century in 2002. The East Timorese constitution is modelled on that of Portugal – the former colonial rulers.