Vicente Guterres New President of the Timor-Leste National Parliament

Member of Parliament (MP) Vicente Guterres was elected (31/07) the new President of the Timorese National Parliament (NP) for the third legislature mandate 2012-2017. MP Guterres served previously as the Vice President of the NP over the past five years from 2007-2012.

MP Guterres was elected with 40 votes in favour from a single list with three (3) votes against, seven (7) abstentions, 13 blank votes and two (2) void votes. 
In his first speech addressing the plenary, the new President of the NP Vicente Guterres said he will perform his duties by the book and urged all other MP’s to fulfil their duties and serve the people and nation.

During the same plenary session led by outgoing President NP Fernando Lasama de Araujo, the parliamentary candidates from political parties who will take on political roles within government took leave and were replaced by substitute MP’s who were sworn in immediately so they can start exercising their duties as representatives of the people at parliament.

According to outgoing President NP de Araujo the vote to elect the new President of the NP was done properly, “this is Democracy and we all congratulate our new president-elect in the hopes he will over the next five years bring more positive changes to this National Parliament.”