6 September 2001 -- The Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretilin) has captured a majority of seats in the 88-member Constituent Assembly, as the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) today announced the results of the territory's first-ever democratic elections.
According to UNTAET's Chief Electoral Officer, Carlos Valenzuela, Fretilin won 43 of the 75 national seats and 12 of the possible 13 district representative posts. Just over one-quarter of the 88 members, 24, will be women. The results for the final remaining district, Dili, were announced separately earlier in the day, with Fretilin winning the district representative seat.
In capturing its majority, Fretilin far outdistanced the other political parties. The Democratic Party won just seven seats, followed by the Social Democratic Party and the Associação Social-Democrata Timorense with six each.
The Timorese Democratic Union, National Timorese Party, Klibur Oan Timor Asuwain, People's Party of Timor and the Christian Democratic Party each won two seats.
The remaining three seats went to the Socialist Party of Timor, the Liberal Party and the Christian Democratic Party of Timor.
UNTAET chief Sergio Vieira de Mello today congratulated all those involved in the 30 August electoral process. "I believe that the final provisional results announced this morning are a clear indication of the aspirations of the Timorese people," he said at a press conference after the announcement of results.
Mr. Vieira de Mello will now appoint the second Transitional Government of East Timor, which will be formed and will be headed by an all-Timorese Council of Ministers.
"It is my fervent hope that the elections this year will have proven to the people of East Timor that elections can and should be peaceful events," said Mr. Valenzuela, who heads UNTAET's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). "This would be the greatest legacy of this election."
Parties and independent candidates have until Saturday evening to lodge complaints with the IEC Board of Commissioners. The Board will respond to the few complains filed so far by the certification deadline of 10 September. The results will not be official until they are certified by the Board and formally handed to Mr. Vieira de Mello at a ceremony on Monday.
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