Peaceful Elections in East Timor Result in Setback for Ruling Party
By Daniel Hollingsworth
July 5, 2007 | Printer Friendly

Results of elections in East Timor held on June 30 indicate that the ruling Fretilin party can no longer claim majority support, forcing it into negotiations to form a coalition government.  The BBC reports that Fretilin received only 29% of the vote, compared with 57% in the last parliamentary elections of 2001.  It has ruled out any partnership with the CNRT party of former president and independence hero Xanana Gusmao, which followed in the polls with 23%, while most other parties have vowed not to join with Fretilin.  It is believed that CNRT will likely attract the most support in forming the new government.  Popular frustration over the slow pace of development in East Timor since gaining independence from Indonesia in 1999 is cited as the reason for the loss of support for the Fretilin party.

Voice of America reports that despite some minor disputes during the vote-counting process, the European Union Election Observation Mission in charge of monitoring the election called the process peaceful.  The process of counting the votes was slightly delayed, as Fretilin and CNRT initially demanded that at least ten members of their party were present for the count, which exceeds limits set forth by regulations in place.

Despite the apparent success of the elections, a report by the Associated Press states that the overall situation in East Timor remains grim.  In Foreign Policy magazine’s annual “Failed States Index” for 2007, East Timor was placed in the “alert” category along with other countries such as Sudan, Iraq, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.  “East Timor’s lowest grade was in state legitimacy, largely due to the unclear circumstances last June when Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri resigned during the violence under pressure from political opponents.”  The AP reports that massive unemployment and poverty further destabilize the situation in East Timor.  Following outbreaks of violence in 2006, in which at least 37 people were killed and 155,000 were driven from their homes, the United Nations increased its staff to 2,800, including 1,600 police officers from other countries.  Political leaders in East Timor and the United Nations believe that a foreign presence will be required for several years to encourage stability in the country.

References:

BBC News: Fretilin claims East Timor Victory

Voice of America: Disputes Delay East Timor Vote Count