An advanced team of official observers is already in Dili for initial preparations for the monitoring of the Presidential elections scheduled for 20 March 2017. The final pool of candidates was known on 18 February, after the Court of Appeal verified the 8 applications.
Basque Izaskun Bilbao Barandica MEP leads the European Union’s Election Observation Mission (EOM) in Timor-Leste to accompany the presidential elections on March 20 2017 and the legislative elections in July 2017. The first group of European Parliament observers to the presidential elections arrived in Dili on 11 February and will remain in the country until the conclusion of the electoral process and the preparation of a comprehensive final report. On February 9, 2017, the European Union Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Alexandre Leitão, signed with the CNE president, Alcino Baris, a memorandum of understanding that defines the necessary conditions for the accomplishment of the observation mission. Invitation by the Timorese authorities.
This core team will be accompanied by 16 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the Timorese territory. Ten other observers are then added to the legislative elections.
Portuguese MEP Ana Gomes, Marisa Matias and Nuno Melo are mmbers of the group of leading election observers to monitor the Presidential elections and are expected to arrive Dili, the week before the vote.
“Timor-Leste has taken significant steps towards strengthening its democratic institutions since its referendum on independence in 1999. This year’s elections will be the first major elections without the presence and assistance of the United Nations Integrated Mission,” said Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.
Presidential elections are scheduled for March 20, with eight candidates registered and legislative elections in early July, with almost 30 political parties already registered.
For more Information:
https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/ni_iniciomoeue_pt.pdf
https://eeas.europa.eu/election-observation-missions/eom-timor-leste-2017_en