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Presidency of the Council of Ministers

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 25th, 2026

The Council of Ministers met in the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium at the Ministry of Finance in Dili and approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by Vice-Minister of Finance Regina de Jesus, regarding the composition of the Political Review Committee for the preparation of the 2027 General State Budget.

The Political Review Committee’s objective is to ensure that the annual plans of the Public Administrative Sector services and entities are feasible and aligned with the national priorities established in the 2011–2030 Strategic Development Plan, the Government Program, the medium-term plans, and other strategic documents. It is also responsible for ensuring that the allocated budgetary appropriations comply with these plans and the established expenditure ceilings, and that the inclusion of appropriations in the General State Budget is contingent upon the prior inclusion of the respective activities in the annual plans of the relevant agencies or entities.

The Political Review Committee will be chaired by the Prime Minister and will also comprise the two Vice-Prime Ministers, the Vice-Minister of Finance, the Minister of Public Works, and the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment. The Secretary of State for Equality, the President of the Institute for the Defence of Children’s Rights, and a representative of the Association of Persons with Disabilities of Timor-Leste will also participate in the meetings of the Political Review Committee as observers. END

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7:30 a.m. – 7:40 a.m. – Travel from the Residence to the CCF – Location: Farol

7:40 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. – Visit to the CCF – Location: CCF Comoro

8:45 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. – From the CCF to the F-FDTL Headquarters

8:50 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Visit to F-FDTL Headquarters – Location: F-FDTL Headquarters, Fatuhada

9:00 a.m. – 9:05 a.m. – From F-FDTL Headquarters to the Office of the President

9:05 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. – Visit to the Office of the President – Location: Office of the President, Aitarak Laran

9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – From the Office of the President to Dili Cathedral

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Mass at Dili Cathedral – Location: Dili Cathedral

11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – From Dili Cathedral to the National Parliament

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Visit to the National Parliament – Location: National Parliament

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM – From the National Parliament to the Heroes’ Garden, Metinaro

1:45 PM – Funeral Ceremony – Location: Heroes’ Garden, Metinaro

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The Vice Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Céu Brites, represented Timor-Leste at the 19th Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19), held June 9^th–10^th, 2026, at United Nations Headquarters in New York, where she presented the country’s policies and progress in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. 

At the conference’s opening session, held on June 9^th, the Vice Minister delivered Timor-Leste’s national statement to the United Nations General Assembly, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which the country ratified in 2023.

In her remarks, she highlighted the progress achieved through the National Policy for the Inclusion and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the National Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities 2021–2030, and the National Social Protection Strategy. She also mentioned the introduction in 2026 of the Budget Allocation for Disability Inclusion, aimed at integrating the disability perspective into the planning and allocation of public resources.

On June 10^th, the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, together with the Permanent Mission of Timor-Leste to the United Nations, organised a side event on the theme “The Government of Timor-Leste’s Policy on Social Inclusion.”

Vice Minister Céu Brites delivered the keynote address, and Timor-Leste’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares, moderated the session. Representatives of States Parties to the Convention, academics, civil society organisations, and development partners attended the event.

During the event, national policies, and strategic tools guiding government action in areas such as social protection, education, inclusive rehabilitation services, accessibility, and disability-sensitive budget planning were presented. Experiences were also shared regarding the implementation of the National Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities 2021–2030 and the preparation of Timor-Leste’s initial report to the Convention Committee.

The event was supported by Portugal’s Secretary of State for Social Action and Inclusion, Clara Marques Mendes, and Australia’s Assistant Secretary for Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion, Sally-Anne Henry, who shared their perspectives on advancing the rights of people with disabilities and on cooperation with Timor-Leste in this area.

A video was also shown about the Self-Sustaining Businesses program, an initiative of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion that supports people with disabilities in starting their own businesses.

On the sidelines of the conference, Vice Minister Céu Brites also attended a reception hosted by Austria on June 9^th, accompanied by Licínio M. Branco, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Timor-Leste to the United Nations. During the meeting, best practices for promoting the human rights of persons with disabilities were shared, and opportunities to strengthen cooperation with international partners in this area were discussed.

The national delegation also included the National Director for Persons with Disabilities, staff from the Secretariat of the National Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities, members of the Vice Minister’s Office, and representatives of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion’s communications team.

Timor-Leste’s participation in COSP19 provided an opportunity to present the results achieved in implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to strengthen international cooperation for the inclusion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.

On June 22^nd, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Portuguese Republic, António José Seguro, at the National Palace of Belém in Lisbon. During the visit, they discussed developments in the international situation and the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Timor-Leste and Portugal. 

At the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed greetings from the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, to the Portuguese President. António José Seguro, in turn, recalled the Timorese Head of State’s participation in his inauguration, held in March of this year.

During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on developments in the international political landscape and on issues of mutual interest. The Prime Minister congratulated Portugal on its election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and expressed his hope that the country would continue to promote the values of peace, stability, and sustainable development internationally.

Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão also addressed the challenges facing the United Nations, particularly regarding the functioning of the Security Council, arguing for reforms that would enable it to better adapt to current international realities.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation in areas including justice, education, and development. The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for Portugal’s continued support in these sectors and presented Timor-Leste’s National Strategy for the Blue Economy, which outlines opportunities to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The situation in Guinea-Bissau was also discussed, and the two leaders exchanged views on measures to promote political stability and strengthen the country’s institutions.

On the Portuguese side, President António José Seguro reiterated Portugal’s commitment to continuing to support Timor-Leste in its priority development areas. The Portuguese Head of State also recalled his involvement in international solidarity initiatives in support of the Timorese people’s struggle for self-determination in the 1990s.

At the end of the meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the historic ties of friendship and cooperation between Timor-Leste and Portugal.

Vice Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay; Minister of Justice Sérgio da Costa Hornai; Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares; the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Portugal, Manuel de Araújo Serrano; the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the CPLP, Natália Carrascalão; and the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Elizabeth Exposto, accompanied the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister’s visit to Portugal also includes meetings with officials from the justice and higher education sectors, as well as initiatives related to Timor-Leste’s rotating presidency of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP – acronym in Portuguese), a role the country currently holds.