On Friday 30 Ministers of the new minority government were named, including 23 seats from the Fretilin party and seven representatives from its coalition party, the Democratic Party.

As the final make-up of the new government drags into its second month Francisco Miranda Branco, Fretilin parliamentary group deputy leader, called on the Director General to install calm among civil society institutions to support time needed for successful negotiating process of each Minister.

Camilo Ximenes, a political observer, warned continual delays could “give negative impact to Ministry’s activities.”

Timorese went to the polls on July 22 for the parliamentary election.

IN addition to Mari Alkatiri announced as Prime Minister, several familiar faces have returned to cabinet, including former president Jose Ramos-Horta, who will be a Minister of State with an additional role as advisor on national security and former Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo, as Minister of Health.

Among the new faces in the Ministry is the former rector of the National University Aurelio Guterres as the Foreign Minister.

Also sworn in on Friday were: the Minister of State and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Estanislau da Silva, the Minister at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Adriano do Nascimento, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Aurélio Guterres, the Minister of State Administration, Valentim Ximenes, the Minister for Planning and Finance, Rui Gomes, the Minister for Defence and Security, Agostinho Somotxo, the Minister for Commerce and Industry, António Conceição, the Minister of Social Solidarity, Florentina Smith, and the Vice Minister for Education and Culture, Lurdes Bessa.

The Prime Minister also assumes the lead of the Ministry for Development and Institutional Reform.

So far it appears senior PD Ministers will take lead roles in the presidency of the Council of Ministers and in Commerce and Industry.

The new Fretilin-led minority government marks a change from the previous government that was based on an informal power-sharing agreement between the two largest parties Fretilin and National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT).

It also marks an end to a decade long CNRT-led government, directed by the CNRT head Xanana Gusmão.

After narrowly losing the July election, CNRT has said its 22 MPs would serve in opposition, though it would support the government on key votes such as the budget.