Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Eighth Constitutional Government

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Press Release

Dili, 25th of June 2018

Transitional Ministerial Administration

Considering that the 8th Constitutional Government took office last Friday, June 22nd, and that, consequently, it is important to deal immediately with the special process of “portfolio transition” of the ministries of the VII Constitutional Government to the ministries of the current Government.

Considering that in this very early period of the mandate of this Government and as there is still no organic law of the Government, situations may still cause some lack of definition regarding the attributions of each ministry;

Considering also that some members of the new Government have not yet been sworn-in, in particular some ministers, and that in some cases there is a lack of institutional leadership necessary for the ‘portfolio transition’ and for the commitments associated with the day-to-day management of the ministries;

As such, and in accordance with part c) of nº1 of Article 117 of the Constitution of the Republic, the Prime-Minister declares that:

1. The Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, shall, on a transitional basis, be responsible for the ministries whose incumbent Minister has not yet taken office, with the support of the Deputy Ministers and Secretaries of State of each of these ministries that have already taken office, to ensure coordination in these sectors of activity.
2. The ministries that are temporarily under the responsibility of the Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers are the following:

a)      Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry and Environment;

b)     Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment;

c)      Ministry of Defense;

d)     Ministry of the Interior;

e)      Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources;

f)       Ministry of Veteran Affairs;

g)      Ministry of Health.

1. Until the swearing in of the incumbent Ministers of the Ministries refereed, their nº 2, the Vice-Ministers and Secretaries of State of this ministries shall report to the Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
2. The Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers shall, in particular, be responsible for ensuring the transition of the previous Government’s affairs to the ministries referred to in paragraph 2.

The delegation of powers to the Minister of State and to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers shall automatically terminate when the minister incumbent of each of the ministries referred to in paragraph 2 is sworn in his or her functions. ENDS