Media Releases
- 22 of June of 2026Luto Nacional em Homenagem a Sua Excelência Dr. Francisco Guterres, Presidente da República Democrática de Timor-Leste 2017-2022Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
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Government Decree
Luto Nacional em Homenagem a Sua Excelência Dr. Francisco Guterres, Presidente da República Democrática de Timor-Leste 2017-2022
Francisco Guterres, mais conhecido por “Lú Olo”, nasceu no dia 7 de setembro de 1954, em Ossú, Município de Viqueque e faleceu no dia 21 de junho de 2026, na Malásia.
O seu percurso político está profundamente ligado à luta pela independência de Timor-Leste. Ainda durante a administração portuguesa do território, integrou movimentos nacionalistas.
Após a proclamação unilateral da independência, em 28 de novembro de 1975, e a subsequente invasão indonésia, Lú Olo integrou a resistência nacional. Durante os anos de ocupação, desempenhou diversas funções de liderança política no movimento de resistência pela libertação nacional, tornando-se uma das figuras influentes da luta pela libertação nacional.
Após a realização do referendo a 30 de agosto de 1999, foi eleito deputado à Assembleia Constituinte e seu Presidente, e posteriormente tornou-se o primeiro Presidente do Parlamento Nacional, cargo que exerceu entre 2002 e 2007.
No ano de 2017 foi eleito Presidente da República de Timor-Leste, tendo assumindo funções a 20 de maio desse ano até 2022.
Assim,
O Governo decreta, ao abrigo dos n.os 1 e 2 do artigo 41.o da Lei
n.o 4/2024, de 3 de julho, o seguinte:
Artigo 1.º
É decretado Luto Nacional em todo o território nacional, em sinal de pesar pela morte do Dr. Francisco Guterres Lú Olo, ex-Presidente da República Democrática de Timor-Leste.
Artigo 2.º
O período de Luto Nacional tem início às 15.00 horas do dia 22 de junho e termina às 24.00 horas do dia 28 de junho.
Artigo 3.º
1. Durante o período de Luto Nacional referido no artigo anterior, a Bandeira Nacional deve ser mantida a meio-mastro ou meia-adriça, nos termos do artigo 13.o da Lei n.o 2/2007, de 18 de janeiro.
2. A situação prevista no número anterior deve ser cumprida em todos os edifícios públicos, incluindo embaixadas, consulados e outras representações do Estado no estran-geiro, bem como nas embarcações do Estado.
Artigo 4.º
O presente diploma entra em vigor com a sua publicação.
Aprovado em Conselho de Ministros em 22 de junho de 2026.
O Primeiro-Ministro, em exercício
Mariano Assanami Sabino Lopes
- 22 of June of 2026Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 22nd, 2026Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 22nd, 2026
The Council of Ministers held an extraordinary session in the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium at the Ministry of Finance in Dili, approved a vote of condolence, and decided to declare a national mourning period following the death of Francisco Guterres “Lu Olo”, former President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, President of the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN), and one of the influential figures in the struggle for national liberation. National mourning will be observed throughout the country for seven days, from 3:00 p.m. on June 22nd to 00:00 a.m. on June 28th, with the national flag flown at half-mast at all public buildings, including embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic missions abroad, as well as on government vessels.
Francisco Guterres “Lu Olo” passed away at the age of 71 at Prince Court Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he was receiving intensive medical treatment. Born in Ossú, in the municipality of Viqueque, on September 7, 1954, he dedicated much of his life to the struggle for national liberation, holding various leadership roles in the resistance during the Indonesian occupation. Following the death of Konis Santana in 1998, he assumed political leadership of the Timorese resistance.
In 2001, he was elected President of the Constituent Assembly, which was responsible for drafting the Constitution of the Republic. He served as President of the National Parliament from 2002 to 2007 and was elected President of the Republic in 2017, a position he held until 2022.
Francisco Guterres “Lu Olo” was awarded the Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste in 2009, the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste in 2022, and the Grand Collar of the Order of Infante D. Henrique, awarded by the Portuguese Republic in the same year, in recognition of his contribution to Timor-Leste and of the strengthening of relations between the two countries.
With this decision, the Government pays tribute to a prominent figure in the national liberation struggle and extends its deepest condolences to his wife, children, and other family members, to FRETILIN, and to the entire Timorese people, recognising the legacy of dedication and service that Francisco Guterres “Lu Olo” left in building a free, democratic, and sovereign Timor-Leste. END - 19 of June of 2026Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 19th, 2026Approvedmore
✅ 1 - National Action Plan for the Manufacturing Industry.
✅ 2 - Ratification of the Defence Cooperation Agreement between the Governments of Timor-Leste and New Zealand.
✅ 3 - Extension and amendment of the Supplementary Agreement to the Partnership for Inclusive Prosperity (PROSIVU) Program, concluded between the Governments of Timor-Leste and Australia.
Analysed
➡️ 1 - Presentation on the progress of development and expansion work at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport.
➡️ 2 - Update on the management of state-owned land and real estate.
➡️ 3 - Update on preparations for the transfer of the remains of Catholic prelates who served in Timor-Leste. - 12 of June of 2026The Government of Timor-Leste congratulates the Philippines on Independence DayPresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
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Dili, June 12th, 2026
Press Release
The Government of Timor-Leste congratulates the Philippines on Independence Day
The Government of Timor-Leste joins the celebrations of the Independence Day of the Republic of the Philippines, observed on June 12th, and extends its congratulations to the Government and people of the Philippines on this historic occasion. The Philippines declared its independence on June 12th, 1898.
Timor-Leste and the Philippines have long-standing friendly and cooperative relations and share a common commitment to promoting peace, stability, and development across Southeast Asia.
Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Government Spokesperson, stated that “as the Filipino people celebrate Independence Day, Timor-Leste extends its congratulations to the Philippines, a friendly nation and regional partner with which it maintains a relationship of cooperation and mutual respect. At a time when various communities continue to recover from the aftermath of the recent earthquake that struck the country, we also extend our solidarity to the Filipino people. We wish the Philippines prosperity and well-being and reiterate our commitment to strengthening the bonds of friendship between our countries.” END - 08 of June of 2026The Government of Timor-Leste Expresses Solidarity with the Philippines Following the Earthquake in MindanaoThe Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste expresses its deep solidarity with the Government and people of the Republic of the Philippines following today's 7.8-magnitude earthquake on the island of Mindanao, which has resulted in fatalities, injuries, significant damage to infrastructure, and the evacuation of communities due to the risk of a tsunami.more
- 03 of June of 2026The Government expresses its condolences on the passing of Father Agostinho da CostaThe Government of Timor-Leste extends its deepest condolences on the passing of Reverend Father Agostinho da Costa, which occurred on June 3rd, 2026, at the Eduardo Ximenes Regional Hospital (HOREX) in Baucau.more
- 03 of June of 2026Meeting of the Council of Ministers on June 3rd, 2026Approvedmore
1 - Extension until December 31, 2026, of the suspension of the teaching, learning, and practice of martial arts.
2 - Proposal to the National Parliament for the ratification of the Cebu Protocol amending the ASEAN Charter.
3 - Granting of full powers to establish diplomatic relations between Timor-Leste and the Federated States of Micronesia.
4 - Determination of the annual staffing requirements for the PNTL in 2026.
5 - Acceptance of Timor-Leste hosting the 115th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Services (CCS).
Supported
1 - New budget preparation methodology.
2 - Signing of memoranda of understanding between Timor-Leste and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the areas of education and higher education.
Analysed
1 - National Ocean Week 2026. - 27 of May of 2026Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 27th, 2026Analysed:more
➡️ 1 – Execution of the 2026 General State Budget.
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