Joaquim Fonseca, the General Secretary of the National Resistance of East Timorese Students (RENETIL), was responding to proposals of a remodelled government or an early election to rework the ruling coalition government’s political alliances that broke-down during the recent 2020 general state budget rejection.

Fonseca said a new election would mean redirecting budget for basic services into the election that would have negative effects on development efforts. Rather, RENETIL calls for dialogue between political parties to work through political differences.

Fonseca, who conveyed this message to Mari Alkatiri, the General Secretary of opposition party Fretilin in a meeting on Tuesday, said it was time for leaders to act “wisely” and with the interests of people of Timor-Leste in focus.

The impact of on-going uncertainty cannot be overestimated, the student leader said.

 "The nation's historical leaders always ask us to unite but why can’t they unite?” he said.

Fonseca said a “costly” early election should not be the only alternative leaders look at to end political uncertainty.

Timorese have headed for the polls twice in the past three years following recurrent bouts of political instability.

Fonseca said RENETIL would meet with leaders of the Alliance of Change for Progress (AMP) coalition parties to convey the group’s request for dialogue.