Government participates in the inauguration of Afonso Carmona as President of the Court of Appeal
Several members of the 9th Constitutional Government attended Judge Afonso Carmona's inauguration ceremony as President of the Court of Appeal, held at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace in Dili on April 29th, 2025. 
Among the members of the Executive who participated in the ceremony were the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay; the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister of Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino; the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira; the Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai; the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral; the Minister of Defence, Donaciano do Rosário Gomes; and the Vice Minister of the Presidency, José Manuel da Silva. Agio Pereira; the Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai; the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral; the Minister of Defence, Donaciano do Rosário Gomes; and the Vice Minister for Institutional Strengthening, Paulo Manuel da S. dos Remédios. 
The appointment of Judge Afonso Carmona was formalised through Presidential Decree No. 35/2025, signed by President José Ramos-Horta. This appointment stems from the constitutional powers conferred on the Court of Appeal, which, as the highest court in the judicial system of Timor-Leste, is provisionally exercising the functions of the Supreme Court of Justice until the latter is established.
The presidential decree expressly states that the appointment was made “following Article 86(j), in conjunction with Article 124(3) and Article 164(2) of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste”. 
