Fretilin Secretary-General says OGE does not favour population

O secretary-General of the Revolutionary Front of Timor-Leste Independente (Fretilin), Mari Alkatiri, said today that the General Budget of the State (OGE) for 2027 does not favour the population and that it is to win elections.

“ This budget for 2027 does not give priority to the population. The priority is to win elections,” said Mari Alkatiri during a press conference in Dili.

For Mari Alkatiri, the government has no plans, no programs to develop the productive sectors and diversify the national economy.

“Speaking of diversification is not enough. It is not just about making proposals, it is about having political capacity, plans and programmes. They don't have them right now. For this reason, there is a great contradiction in the budget itself”, said the opposition leader.

The National Parliament of East Timor generally approved last week the OGE proposal for 2027 with a consolidated global amount of USD 2,568 million (about EUR 2.270 million), with the abstention of Fretilin and the People's Liberation Party.

“ Priorities should be quality education, health that allows people to live, not die, and sustainable economic and social development,” he said, stressing that no significant progress has been made in those sectors in recent years.

Asked by journalists about why Fretilin decided not to present a presidential election candidate, Mari Alkatiri said it was due to the party's strategy, which could be reassessed.

Timor-Leste holds presidential elections in March 2027 and parliamentary elections in 2028.

Fretilin’s central committee decided in August not to present presidential election candidates for giving “priority to the party and the Timorese people”.