Presidential election this Saturday in East Timor. Nearly 860,000 voters are called to the polls to designate their new president for the next 5 years. Never since the country’s independence 20 years ago have there been so many candidates in the running: 16 in all, including 4 women. Two men are the favorites: current President Francisco Guterres and former President and Nobel Peace Prize winner José Ramos Horta.
Political life in East Timor is often marred by violence. In 2006 clashes between rival parties left dozens dead and 12 years later dozens injured in clashes on the sidelines of the legislative elections. Rivalries between the two main political formations, the Fretilin and the CNRT, have paralyzed the institutions. Without a vote on the budget for years, the country sank into a serious economic crisis.
Half of the Timorese live below the poverty line, 70% are under 30 years old. Unemployment is soaring, especially among the youngest. Analysts expect the victory of one of the great figures of the struggle for independence. Led by outgoing President Francisco Gutteres, 67, a former independence guerrilla also known by his nom de guerre Lu-Olo, and Jose Ramos Horta72, the tireless advocate of the Timorese cause who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996.
At least 100,000 young people will vote for the first time and could give their support to another candidate more concerned with the development of the country. But the campaign mainly focused on the rule of law, peace and stability. Subjects closely linked to the history of the former Portuguese colony, violently annexed by Indonesia in 1975 and whose occupation resulted in the death of at least 170,000 people.