President of East Timor

President of East Timor Portuguese: Presidente da República Tetum: Prezidente Republika
Coat of arms of East Timor
Incumbent Taur Matan Ruak since 20 May 2012
Term length	Five years
Inaugural holder	Francisco Xavier do Amaral
Formation	28 November 1975

The President of East Timor – officially the President of the Democratic Republic of East Timor (Portuguese: Presidente da República Democrática de Timor-Leste, Tetum: Prezidente Republika Demokratica Timor-Leste) – is the head of state in East Timor, elected by popular vote for a five-year term. His executive powers are somewhat limited, though he is able to veto legislation. Following elections, the president appoints as the prime minister, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition. As head of government the prime minister presides over the cabinet.

List of Presidents of East Timor

Presidents of East Timor during War for Independence

      Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN)

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Party
1		Francisco Xavier do Amaral (1937–2012)	28 November 1975	7 December 1975	FRETILIN
—	80px	Nicolau dos Reis Lobato (1946–1978) Acting President	7 December 1975	31 December 1978	FRETILIN

Presidents of the Democratic Republic of East Timor

      National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT)
      Democratic Party (PD)

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Party
1	80px	Xanana Gusmão (1946–)	20 May 2002	20 May 2007	Independent
2		José Ramos-Horta (1949–)	20 May 2007	20 May 2012	Independent
—		Vicente Guterres (1955–) Acting President	11 February 2008	13 February 2008	CNRT
—		Fernando de Araújo (1963–2015) Acting President	13 February 2008	17 April 2008	PD
3		Taur Matan Ruak (1956–)	20 May 2012	Incumbent	Independent

Latest election

Main article: East Timorese presidential election, 2012

 Summary of the 17 March and 16 April 2012 East Timorese presidential election results

Candidates	Parties	1st round		2nd round
		Votes	%	Votes	%
Taur Matan Ruak	Independent (supported by CNRT)	119,462	25.71	275,471	61.23
Francisco Guterres	FRETILIN	133,635	28.76	174,408	38.77
José Ramos-Horta	Independent	81,231	17.48
Fernando de Araújo	Democratic Party	80,381	17.30
Rogério Lobato	Independent, member of FRETILIN	16,219	3.49
José Luís Guterres	Frenti-Mudança	9,235	1.99
Manuel Tilman	KOTA	7,226	1.56
Abílio Araújo	PNT	6,294	1.35
Lucas da Costa	Independent, member of Democratic Party	3,862	0.83
Francisco Gomes	PLPA	3,531	0.76
María do Céu	Independent	1,843	0.40
Angelita Pires	Independent	1,742	0.37
Valid votes		464,661	94.84	449,879	98.08
Invalid votes		18,788	3.83	6,801	1.48
Blank votes		6,484	1.32	2,023	0.44
Total votes (turnout 78.20%/73.12%)		489,933	100.00	458,703	100.00
Source: CNE, CNE

See also

• List of colonial heads of Portuguese Timor
• Prime Minister of East Timor
• Lists of office-holders