English: PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC CONSULTS WITH THE COUNCIL OF STATE ABOUT THE 2019 BUDGET

Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace, Dili, 15 January 2019

The President of the Republic Francisco Guterres Lú Olo today presided over the meeting of the Council of State, which focused on the 2019 General State Budget.

Before the meeting, three new members of the Council of State appointed by National Parliament took office, namely Eduardo de Deus Barreto ‘Dusae’, José Cornélio Guterres and Arcangelo de Jesus Gouveia.

When making a decision about whether to enact or veto the budget proposal, the President of the Republic will take into consideration the opinions of the members of the Council of State as his political advisory body.

Present at the meeting were former President of the Republic José Ramos-Horta, Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak and the president of National Parliament Arão Noé de Jesus da Costa Belo.The meeting was also attended by Eduardo de Deus Barreta“Dusae”, Aurora Ximenes, José Cornélio Guterres, Arcangelo de Jesus Gouveia Leite and José dos Santos “Naimori Bukar”, appointed by National Parliament, and Oscar Lima, Faustinho Godingho Gonçalves da Costa, Alcino de Araújo Barris, Maria Dadi Soares Magno and Laura Soares Abrantes, appointed by the President of the Republic.Former President of the Republic Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and Faustinho Godinho Gonçalves da Costa could not attend the gathering.

The General State Budget Law for 2019, of $ 2.1 billion was submitted to the President of the Republic on 24 December 2018.The Head of State has now thirty days to decide whether to enact or veto the diploma.

Between 7 and 10 January, the President of the Republic consulted with a number of entities, namely the Petroleum Fund Consultative Council, civil society organisations, law experts, scholars, religious denominations, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste and Timor-Leste Central Bank.