East Timorese presidential election, 2007

Infobox Election
election_name = East Timorese presidential election, 2007
country = East Timor
type = presidential
ongoing = no
previous_election = East Timorese presidential election, 2002
previous_year = 2002
next_election =
next_year =
election_date = March 11 and March 25, 2007


candidate1 = José Ramos-Horta
party1 = Independent (politician)|Independent
popular_vote1 = 285,835
percentage1 = 69.18%

candidate2 = Francisco Guterres
party2 = Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor
popular_vote2 = 127,342
percentage2 = 30.82%

title = President
before_election = Xanana Gusmão
before_party = National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction
after_election = José Ramos-Horta
after_party = Independent (politician)|IndependentThe 2007 East Timorese presidential election involved two separate votes. The first, on 9 April 2007 eliminated six of the eight nominees. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21580647-5005961,00.html "Two set to square off for presidency"] , AAP (news.com.au), 18 April 2007] The remaining two candidates, current Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta and Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN) President Francisco Guterres, faced each other in a runoff election on 9 May 2007. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/East-Timor-set-for-presidential-runoff/2007/05/06/1178390116319.html "East Timor set for presidential run-off"] , Sydney Morning Herald, 6 May 2007] Ramos-Horta won the second round with 69% of the vote. [http://english.people.com.cn/200705/11/eng20070511_373864.html "Guterres congratulates Horta as new president of Timor-Leste"] , Xinhua ("People's Daily Online"), May 11, 2007.]

First round

Nominations and campaigns

Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta announced in February 2007 that he would be a presidential candidate, receiving the support of incumbent president Xanana Gusmão, who chose not to run for another term. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/25/asia/AS-GEN-East-Timor-Elections-Ramos-Horta.php "Nobel laureate Jose Ramos-Horta to run for president in East Timor"] , Associated Press ("International Herald Tribune"), 24 February 2007.] Ramos-Horta's main opponent among the seven other candidates was parliamentary speaker Francisco Guterres, though also running were Francisco Xavier do Amaral (also a candidate in the 2002 election), Avelino Coelho da Silva of the Socialist Party, Fernando de Araújo of the Democratic Party, Lúcia Lobato of the Social Democratic Party (the sole female candidate), João Viegas Carrascalão of the Timorese Democratic Union, and Manuel Tilman of the Association of Timorese Heroes. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Timorese-prepare-to-elect-new-president/2007/03/10/1173478717431.html "Timorese prepare to elect new president"] , Australian Associated Press ("The Sydney Morning Herald"), 10 March 2007.]

Campaigning began on 23 March, the day after two people were killed in gun battles with police in the capital Dili, though Ramos-Horta did not mention this in his opening campaign speech, instead focusing on poverty. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/24/asia/AS-GEN-East-Timor-Election.php "East Timor election campaign starts against backdrop of violence"] , Associated Press ("International Herald Tribune"), 23 March 2007]

Results and controversy

Early results were announced by a spokesman for the national elections commission, Martinho Gusmão, who said that results from the capital Dili showed Ramos-Horta with about 30%, Araújo with about 25%, and Amaral and Guterres with about 20% each. [Anthony Deutsch, [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21532911-912,00.html "Nobel laureate could be president"] , Associated Press ("AdelaideNow"), 10 April 2007.] On 11 April, the president of the commission said that Guterres was in first place with 28.8% and would participate in a second round to be held in May, while Ramos-Horta had 22.5% and Araújo had 18.6%.Stephen Fitzpatrick, [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21539664-2703,00.html "East Timor poll candidates threaten court action"] , "The Australian", 11 April 2007.] Five of the candidates — Araújo, Amaral, Lobato, Coelho, and Tilman — demanded that vote counting cease, alleging major problems in the election, and said that counting should only be conducted with all the candidates present to observe; [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=126&art_id=nw20070411102249402C618389 "Stop counting the votes, demand candidates"] , AFP ("IOL"), 11 April 2007.] they said that they would legally challenge the outcome. Soon afterward, Ramos-Horta joined the calls for a recount, and also called for a U.N. investigation regarding the absence of votes from 150,000 citizens. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/UN-urged-to-investigate-Timor-vote/2007/04/12/1175971234366.html "UN urged to investigate Timor vote"] , AAP ("The Age"), 12 April 2007.] Commission spokesman Martinho Gusmão subsequently said on 12 April that there would not be a recount, [Ahmad Pathoni, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=126&art_id=nw20070412221129294C450334 "East Timor poll body rejects call for recount"] , Reuters ("IOL"), 13 April 2007.] but on 13 April he said that there were inconsistencies in the vote count and that it was possible that a re-vote might be necessary in some parts of the country. [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21553719-1702,00.html "East Timor election 'seriously flawed'"] , AFP ("The Australian"), 13 April 2007.] According to final results released by the electoral commission on 18 April, Guterres had 27.89% of the vote (112,666 votes) and Ramos-Horta had 21.81% (88,102 votes), which meant that the two would face each other in a second round. Araújo followed in third place with 19.18% (77,459 votes). Voter turn-out was placed at 81.79%. Following the release of the results, candidates had 24 hours to appeal, [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21580647-5005961,00.html "Two set to square off for presidency"] , AAP (news.com.au), 18 April 2007.] and three of the losing candidates, Araújo, Amaral, and Lobato did so, [Anne Barker, [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200704/s1902560.htm "Unsuccessful candidates appeal against E Timor election results"] , abc.net.au, 20 April 2007.] but the results were confirmed by an appeals court. [ [http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=144992&version=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25 "Court confirms East Timor election results"] , AFP ("Gulf Times"), 22 April 2007.] On 26 April, Araújo announced his party's support for Ramos-Horta in the second round; [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/ramos-horta-wins-key-support/2007/04/26/1177459878586.html "Ramos Horta wins key support"] , AFP ("The Age"), 27 April 2007.] Ramos-Horta also received the support of four out of the five other candidates: Amaral, Lobato, Coelho da Silva, and Carrascalão. Manuel Tilman endorsed Guterres. [Abdul Khalik, [http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20070509.A06&irec=5 "Support for Ramos-Horta no guarantee of a win, say observers"] , "The Jakarta Post", 9 May 2007.]

Results by district (1st round)

Based on official results of East Timor Election Commission

Voting logistics

The logistics of providing the entire East Timor population with access to voting stations proved difficult through both elections. Across the country there were 700 polling stations. Some locations were so isolated that helicopters and donkeys were needed to distribute ballot papers to them. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1918575.htm "Confusion hits voter turnout in E Timor"] , ABC News Online, 9 May 2007.]

References

External links

*tet icon pt icon [http://www.cne.tl/ East Timor National Election Commission website]
* [http://easttimorlegalinformation.org East Timor Legal Information Site]