President of Timor-Leste

President of East Timor
Portuguese: Presidente da República
Tetum: Prezidente Republika
Coat of arms of East Timor
Incumbent
José Ramos-Horta
since 20 May 2022
StyleHis Excellency
ResidenceNicolau Lobato Presidential Palace
AppointerDirect election
Term lengthFive years
Renewable
Inaugural holderFrancisco Xavier do Amaral
Formation28 November 1975

The President of East Timor, officially the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste (Portuguese: Presidente da República Democrática de Timor-Leste, Tetum: Prezidente Republika Demokratika Timor-Leste), is the head of state in East Timor.

The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. Their powers are somewhat limited, though they are able to veto legislation. Following elections, the president usually appoints as the prime minister, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition.

List of presidents of Timor-Leste

Political parties
  Fretilin
  National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT)
  Democratic Party (PD)
Other factions
  Independent
Symbols

† Assassinated

Presidents of East Timor during the War for Independence

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Elected Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Francisco Xavier do Amaral
(1937–2012)		 — 28 November 1975 7 December 1975 9 days Fretilin/ASDT
2 Nicolau dos Reis Lobato
(1946–1978)		 7 December 1975 31 December 1978† 3 years, 24 days Fretilin

Presidents of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Elected Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
3 Xanana Gusmão
(born 1946)		 2002 20 May 2002 20 May 2007 5 years Independent
4 José Ramos-Horta
(born 1949)		 2007 20 May 2007 20 May 2012 5 years Independent
– Vicente Guterres
(born 1956)
Ad interim		 — 11 February 2008 13 February 2008 2 days CNRT
– Fernando de Araújo
(1962–2015)
Ad interim		 13 February 2008 17 April 2008 64 days PD
5 Taur Matan Ruak
(born 1956)		 2012 20 May 2012 20 May 2017 5 years Independent
6 Francisco Guterres
(1954–2026)		 2017 20 May 2017 20 May 2022 5 years Fretilin
7 José Ramos-Horta
(born 1949)		 2022 20 May 2022 Incumbent 4 years, 148 days CNRT

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Killed by the Indonesian special forces.
  2. ↑ Incapacitated from 11 February to 17 April 2008.
  3. 1 2 Served as President during the 2008 assassination attempts.

References