With 99 per cent of votes counted, the former leader’s coalition has secured more than 49.5% of the preliminary vote, ending the nation’s political gridlock. The official result is not due until May 27.

The Change for Progress Alliance (AMP), a coalition of Xanana’s National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party, the youth-focused Khunto party, and the Popular Liberation party led by former President Taur Matan Ruak, was on track to pick-up 34 of the 65-seat parliament.

The in-power Fretilin party saw a large swing against it, winning just 23 seats. The Democratic Party is thought to have scored 5 seat and Democratic Development Front (FDD) 3 seats. Thirty-three seats are needed to form a majority government.

Fretilin has struggled to hold onto power after winning just 0.2% more votes than CNRT last year.  Opposition parties blocked legislation and in January the President Lu-Olo Guterres, called for voters to return to polls for the second time in ten month to end the gridlock.

The election saw a return to voters picking between two major parties and their “old guard” leaders with minor parties abandoned.

Some 16 years into the country’s independence politics remain dominated by the leaders of its independence struggle.