Government of Timor-Leste

The Civil Service Commission organized, on Tuesday, April 10^th, 2012, at the Main Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, a consultative meeting with General Directors, National Directors and Administrators from the 13 districts, aiming at provide information related to the participation of civil servants and agents of the public administration in political and partisan activities.

“The Constitution of the RDTL ensures the right of participation to every citizen in political life and in the public matters of the country. However, public servants and administration agents, as citizens, have special duties foreseen in the Civil Service Statute (Law n. 8/2004 and Law n. 5/2009) related to exemption and impartiality, in compliance with citizens’ equality and political neutrality, in the exercise of their public function”, defended the President of Civil Service Commission, Libório Pereira.

Libório Pereira also advanced that, in accordance with the Guiding Lines for Civil Service Commission, stated in Law n.5/2011, of November 15^th, it is not admissible to public servants and agents of public administration, the exercise of partisan political activities, within the administrative headquarters or during work period, that interfere with their professional activities (Civil Service Statute, Article 42).

“It is forbidden the use of State assets in partisan political activities, namely vehicles, fuel, telephones, office supplies and State assets. Therefore, public servants wanting to run for elections are entitled to a special leave without payment, during the campaign period, as foreseen in article 55 of the Civil Service Statute”, emphasized Libório.

Present at this meeting were: the President of the Civil Service Commission; the President of the Anti-Corruption Commission; the Deputy of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice; the Deputy of the Inspector General of the State, Francisco de Carvalho, General Directors and National Directors.