DILI (TOP) – The permanent representative of FALINTIL commander at UN headquarters for more than 20 years and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner José Manuel Ramos-Horta was re-elected president of the democratic republic of Timor-Leste for the second time after defeating incumbent president Francisco Guterres Lú Olo in the second round.
The first round of presidential elections which took place on March 19, Horta was also declared the winner but did not reach 50% to become the absolute winner. And in the second round of elections, he succeeded in defeating the incumbent president Lú Olo who is also the president of the FRETILIN party since the 2000s until now.
After the majority of East Timorese elected Horta as president of the republic, Horta began receiving congratulations from various world leaders, such as from former United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon, US State Department spokesman Edward "Ned" Price and others.
“We congratulate President-elect José Ramos-Horta on his election as Timor-Leste’s next president and look forward to working with President-elect Ramos-Horta to strengthen the enduring partnership between the United States and Timor-Leste. Rooted in shared values and interests, our partnership has delivered opportunities to improve the livelihoods of the Timorese people through economic development, public health, security cooperation, and educational exchanges and training,” Ned Price, Department Spokesperson said in a press statement.
Price added; “We commend Timorese authorities, including the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration and the National Elections Commission, for administering a free, fair, and transparent election and the hundreds of thousands of Timorese voters who cast their ballots peacefully”.
He said, Timor-Leste’s election serves as an inspiration for democracy in Southeast Asia, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world. This achievement represents another milestone in Timor-Leste’s tremendous work to build and strengthen its robust, vibrant democracy over its nearly 20-year history as an independent nation.
“Excellency Jose Ramos Horta, my salute to you. You are the right person to be Timor Leste President. Congratulation my friend, I hope I can visit you once I finish my term here in Oslo,” Ambassador of Republic of Indonesia to Norway, Human Rights Lawyer Mulya Lubis.
“Hearty congratulations Mr. President! The world is a better place today with you in leadership. Sending all my love,” Kerry Kennedy.
“Congratulation for being elected again to the highest position in Timor Leste. And GOOD LUCK on your challenging mission!,” Professor Grzegorz W. Kolodko, former Deputy PM, Finance Minister of Finance, Poland.
The Australia Myanmar Institute for Democracy, Human Rights and Peace wishes to convey our warmest congratulations on your re-election as the President of East Timor for the second time.
“We are immensely pleased that the people of East Timor will benefit enormously from your competent and responsible leadership. We send you and the people of East Timor our best wishes for the future,” Founding Director of the Transformation, Integration and Globalization Economic Research (TIGER).
“Congratulations on your great victory! Wish you and your country God’s blessings n bountiful success!,” George Yeo, former Minister of Foreign Afgairs of Singapore.
“Congratulation for a landslide victory. I am very happy to hear the news. Now get ready for the real history making. Wishing you a fantastic presidential term,” M Yunus Nobel Peace Prize (2006), Founder of Microcredit.
“Congratulations to you and the people of Timor-Leste on your election. I wish you and the people tremendous success in developing your country.
Highest consideration,
Justice Koroma
Internationa Court of Justice, The Hague
(Abdul Gadire Koroma is a Sierra Leonean jurist who served two terms as judge at the International Court of Justice. Good old friend since when we both were young, Koroma a diplomat, and i a humble Timorese activist.)
After receiving these congratulations, Horta expressed his gratitude to them.
“Once again, I’m so honoured to receive messages of congratulations from friends from around the world,” president-elect José Manuel Ramos-Horta.
Horta secured 397,145 votes, or 62.09 percent, against incumbent Francisco Guterres Lú Olo 242,440, or 37.91 percent, the secretariat's website showed after all ballots were counted.
