In parliamentary elections, National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) wins about 42 percent of the vote. The Revolution Front for an Independent Timor-Leste (Fretilin), the party of Prime Minister José Maria Vasconcelos, popularly known as Taur Matan Ruak, is second with about 26 percent of the votes. Independence hero Xanana Gusmão of CNRT could return to being prime minister. José Ramos-Horta was elected president in 2022.

East Timor is granted observer member status to ASEAN, with a path to full membership established.

Ramos Horta is elected president for the second time, winning 62% of the vote.

Voting for President. Jose Ramos-Horta is leading incumbent President Francisco ‘Lu Olo’ Guterres of FRETILIN (the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor). Xanana Gusmao, who leads the CNRT (National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction), has supported Ramos-Horta, who fell just short of the 50% needed for an outright victory in the initial voting.

With 75% of votes counted, Ramos-Horta holds a commanding lead over Guterres, though not a clear majority.

Voting for president. There are sixteen candidates, including current president Francisco “Lu Olo” Guterres, former military leader Lere Anan Timur, and former leader and Nobel Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta. If there is no winner of a majority, a runoff would be held on 4/19.

East Timor confirms its first case of COVID-19.

Parliament votes to extend deadline for Brexit by at least three months. The EU would have to agree to such an extension. It also votes overwhelmingly against a second referendum on Brexit, on condition that they approve May’s exit agreement. There will be a third vote on that by 3/20. If the exit agreement fails, May will still ask the EU for an extension.