Ramos-Horta wins East Timor vote
President-elect wants UN forces to remain and vows to help the country’s poor.
Man of the poor
“I have the full intention to use my mandate. My campaign theme was to speak for the poor and the poor have voted for me,” he said.
Despite the role of president president not encompassing budgetary matters he said he would push his reforms.
“If the president is expected to bridge the divide in this country, to promote peace, reconciliation, then he should be expected also to demand adequate money for the poor.”
“One cannot talk about peace and democracy without the same time spending money on the poor people.”
Speaking to reporters Ramos-Horta, vowed to heal East Tmor’s political and social rifts.
No celebration
“I will honour what I told the people in the campaign. I will work for the poor, with the entire country, to unite it, and heal its wounds” Jose Ramos-Horta, presidential candidate |
“I will honour what I told the people in the campaign… I will work for the poor, with the entire country, to unite it, and heal its wounds.
“Stability in East Timor, or in any post-conflict country regards patience from the international community to ensure that peace is consolidated, that our institutions are consolidated,” Ramos-Horta said, speaking live on Al Jazeera.
UN election workers counting ballots in Dili [AP] |
Ramos-Horta’s political ally, outgoing president Xanana Gusmao, is planning to run for prime minister in parliamentary polls on June 30 in a bid to sideline Fretilin, the party led by Guterres.
“It was not a perfect election but we have to move forward. We have said we will win with dignity, we will lose with dignity” Arsenio Bano, Fretilin spokesman |
Arsenio Bano, a Fretilin spokesman and labour minister, congratulated Ramos-Horta, a former journalist who spearheaded an overseas campaign for East Timor’s independence.