2012 East Timorese parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in East Timor on 7 July 2012.[1] The United Nations stated that it would withdraw its 1,300 troops if the elections passed off peacefully.[2][3] The National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction, led by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, won the election with 30 seats, three seats short of a majority in National Parliament.[4]

2012 East Timorese parliamentary election

7 July 2012
All 65 seats to the National Parliament of East Timor 33 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Xanana Gusmão Mari Alkatiri Party CNRT FRETILIN Last election 24.10%, 18 seats 29.02%, 21 seats Seats won 30 25 Seat change 12 4 Popular vote 172,831 140,786 Percentage 36.66% 29.87% Swing 12.56% 0.85%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Fernando de Araújo José Luís Guterres Party Democratic Party Frenti-Mudança Last election 11.30%, 8 seats New party Seats won 8 2 Seat change 0 New party Popular vote 48,851 14,648 Percentage 10.31% 3.11% Swing 0.99% New party
Prime Minister before election Xanana Gusmão CNRT Prime Minister-designate Xanana Gusmão CNRT

Electoral system

All 65 members of the National Parliament were elected from a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation voting. A party had to cross the electoral threshold of 3% to enter parliament and seats were distributed according to the d'Hondt method. Parties were required to submit lists with 65 candidates and at least 25 replacements. According to the electoral law, every fourth member on a party's list has to be a woman.[1]

Campaign

In total, 21 political parties registered for the election. The campaign was focused on economic issues, particularly the country's $10.5 billion oil fund. Alongside the two main parties, CNRT and FRETILIN, a further 19 parties and lists registered for the elections.[5]

The election campaign was focussed on economic issues, particularly the question of what should be done with the country's oil fund, worth $10.5 billion.[2] The CNRT campaign pledged to increase the amount of money the fund contributed to the state budget beyond the existing 3% limit and to attract foreign loans for infrastructure improvement projects,[6] promising long-term investment in roads and electricity and water supplies. FRETILIN opposed CNRT's policies on foreign loans and changes to the oil fund spending, but ran a campaign focused on raising levels of income and education.[3] FRETILIN general secretary Mari Alkatiri promised to reduce corruption if elected.[2]

Results

Results in all districts

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction	172,831	36.66	30	+12
FRETILIN	140,786	29.87	25	+4
Democratic Party	48.851	10.31	8	0
Frenti-Mudança	14,648	3.11	2	New
Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan	13,998	2.97	0	New
Socialist Party of Timor	11,379	2.41	0	0
Social Democratic Party	10,158	2.15	0	–
National Development Party	9,386	1.99	0	New
Timorese Social Democratic Association	8,487	1.80	0	–
National Unity of Timorese Resistance	7,041	1.49	0	–2
Timorese Democratic Union	5,332	1.13	0	0
Republican Party	4,270	0.91	0	0
PLPA/PDRT coalition	4,012	0.85	0	0
Timorese People's Monarchy Association	3,968	0.84	0	New
National Unity Party	3,191	0.68	0	–3
Coligação Bloco Proclamador (PMD–PARENTIL)	3,125	0.66	0	0
Democratic Alliance (Kota/Trabalhista)	2,622	0.56	0	–2
Timorese Democratic Party	2,561	0.54	0	0
Liberal Democratic Party	2,222	0.47	0	New
People's Development Party	1,904	0.40	0	New
Christian Democratic Party	887	0.19	0	0
Invalid/blank votes	11,403	–	–	–
Total	482,792	100	65	0
Registered voters/turnout	645,624	74.78	–	–
Source: STAE, SAPO

References

1. Election Profile IFES
2. "BBC News - East Timor holds key parliamentary elections". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
3. "Peaceful vote in E. Timor | Bangkok Post: news". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
4. "Frente Mudança que conseguiu eleger dois deputados está "perplexa" com resultados eleitorais - Notícia Lusa - Especial Eleições Parlamentares 2012". Parlamentares.sapo.tl. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
5. "Angola Press - Internacional - Legislativas de 07 de Julho com 21 partidos e coligações". Portalangop.co.ao. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
6. Polls close in East Timor elections Al Jazeera, 7 July 2012