Youth Parliament
The elections for the Foinsa’e Parliament (Youth Parliament) took place between the 29th June and 9th July this year.
The creation of such a space for awareness and initiation of youngsters, regarding their democratic and civic participation as citizens, is integrated in the vision of development and capacity building of young Timorese, promoted by the IV Constitutional Government.
The initiative took shape in June 2009, with a national consultation on the matter the participation of representatives from the 13 Districts. Four months later, in October 2009, the Council of Ministers approves the Resolution that establishes the creation of the Youth Parliament.
“The main mission of the Foinsa’e Parliament is to become informed about community policy but in an educational phase of information and exercise. We are talking about youngsters that have yet to reach the legal age to exercise their right to vote. They still cannot vote. But they can acquire the knowledge of community, civic and educational character to better prepare themselves, because they are the future leaders of the nation”, explains the General Director for the Secretariat of State for Youth and Sport, José Luís de Pádua Oliveira.
The Youth Parliament is made up of youngsters of age between 12 and 17, chosen for a period of two years. “Two elements in each sub-district are elected. We have 65 sub-districts, which totals 130 democratically elected elements” stated José Luís de Pádua Oliveira.
The first plenary session of this young Parliament will take place after the ballot and confirmation of the voting results, which finished on the 9th of July.
Regarding the regularity of the meetings, the General Director of the Secretariat of State for Youth and Sport states that “the question is defined in the activity plan but it will depend mainly on the flexibility of the organizing Commission. Foremost, we cannot hinder these youngster’s studies since most of them are students. We must choose the proper dates for these events, meetings and discussions”.
