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2007 Assessment

Timor-Leste: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Timor-Leste: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Voting & Citizen Participation
Indicators		Score
14	Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?	100
15	Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?	75
16	Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?	80

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?

14a: In law, universal and equal adult suffrage is guaranteed to all citizens.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution of RDTL, articles 46 and 65

Peer Review Comments: Section 46 relates solely to political formation. Section 65 was buttressed during 2006 and 2007 with various new electoral laws and codes.

14b: In law, there is a legal framework requiring that elections be held at regular intervals.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution of RDTL, article 65

Peer Review Comments: The law was buttressed by various electoral laws and codes added or honed during 2006 and 2007.

Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?

15a: In practice, all adult citizens can vote.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Article 5 of National Parliament law Article 5 of presidential election law International Certification Mission Report on Election

Peer Review Comments: Given high illiteracy and inconsistent communications coverage, citizens are for now dependent on consistent implementation of electoral/voting systems that are amenable to needs of an illiterate population.

Peer Review Comments: While I agree in theory, in practice I would want more information on how voting is made accessible to persons with disabilities, for example.

15b: In practice, ballots are secret or equivalently protected.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Article 5 of National Parliament law Article 5 of presidential election law International Certification Mission Report on Election

Peer Review Comments: The electoral process has until now been run by or heavily-influenced by the U.N. mission present in the country.

15c: In practice, elections are held according to a regular schedule.

Score:

100

Comments: ET has just faced its second election, both parliamentarian and presidential. In 2002, Parliament was elected before the president, but in 2007, it was the other way around.

References: Interview with Dr. Christopher Samson, director of LABEH (an anti-corruption NGO), at his office, on 10 July 2007

Peer Review Comments: In 2002, the election was not to elect a parliament but a constituent assembly to write a constitution. This body was then made the first parliament

Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?

16a: In law, all citizens have a right to form political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution of RDTL, article 65

Peer Review Comments: There is no specific provision for this, in this section. See Section 46, which outlines this specifically.

16b: In law, all citizens have a right to run for political office.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution of RDTL, article 46

Peer Review Comments: Section 47 (Right to vote) 1. Every citizen over the age of 17 has the right to vote and to be elected. 2. The exercise of the right to vote is personal and constitutes a civic duty.

16c: In practice, all citizens are able to form political parties.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: While there is no guarantee of electoral success, political parties can form freely without opposition. <p>50 Score Criteria: Some barriers to formation are present, such as burdensome registration requirements that may not be fairly applied. Some parties\' political viewpoints may draw pressure from the government, such as surveillance or intimidation. Some political parties or organizations may have extra barriers to getting on a ballot. <p>0 Score Criteria: Some political parties are effectively barred from forming through some manner of official or unofficial pressure. This may include threats, arrest, or violence from competing parties or other groups.$

Comments:

References: Interview with Dr. Amandio Benevides, deputy of the ombudsman office, in his office, on 17 July 2007

Peer Review Comments: In practice, customs and various forms of affiliation limit who can form parties. High communications costs in a low-income, poverty-stricken context, as well high illiteracy, are also constraints.

16d: In practice, all citizens can run for political office.

Score:

100

Comments: Poverty and illteracy impact this, but otherwise citizens are relatively free to run for political office in practice.

References: Interview with Dr. Amandio Benevides, deputy of the ombudsman office, in his office, on 17 July 2007

16e: In practice, an opposition party is represented in the legislature.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The opposition party always has some influence on the proceedings of the legislature. The opposition party can introduce legislation or bring pending matters to a vote without the consent of the ruling party. <p>50 Score Criteria: The opposition party has influence on the proceeding of the legislature, but it is limited in scope. The opposition\'s ability to force votes or publicly debate certain topics may be limited. <p>0 Score Criteria: The opposition party has only token participation in the legislature\'s proceedings and cannot advance legislation or force a debate.$

Comments: There are more opportunities to see the opposition's role clearly, compared with the previous government, when Fretilin ran. Open discussion is allowed and consensus is reached quite often in parliamentary debates

References: Interview with Dr. Christopher Samson, director of LABEH (an NGO on anti-corruption), at his office, on 10 July 2007

Peer Review Comments: Right now, the main opposition party is limiting its role to that of spoiler, stemming from political disagreement over the outcome of of the June parliamentary elections and the ensuing government formation process.

Peer Review Comments: It may be too soon to tell the status of the new Parliament. In the past, the opposition was too small and the majority too united for it to have any serious influence in pushing votes. Similarly, to my knowledge, the opposition was not generally able to put forward significant draft legislation. There are indications that the new Parliament has a more assertive opposition.