Following the inauguration of the 9th Constitutional Government on July 1st, 2023, the unanimous endorsement of the Programme in the National Parliament on July 19th and the promulgation of its Organic Law by the President of the Republic on July 28th, the Government, through the Budgetary Review Committee (CRO – acronym in Portuguese) is finalising the preparation of the first amendment to Law no. 15/2022, of December 21st, regarding the 2023 General State Budget. 
For three days, from Friday to Sunday, at the Ministry of Finance Auditorium in Dili, the Budgetary Review Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, met individually with all Ministries and Secretaries of State, state institutions and agencies to identify the budget priorities of each portfolio and assess specific funding needs to enable government priorities for the second half of 2023.
The consultations with the ministerial lines were also attended by the Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay and the Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs, Mariano Assanami Sabino, the Minister of Finance, Santina José Rodrigues Ferreira Viegas Cardoso, the Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa and the Vice Minister of Finance, Helder Lopes.
The Ministry of Finance will now finalise the draft Amending Budget Bill. It is expected to be approved by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on August 9th, to be submitted to the National Parliament the following day.