The team of seven European Union election analysts arrived in Timor-Leste on 12 February and will stay in the country until the completion of the electoral process and summary report, an EU statement said.

 On 20 February the team will be joined by 16 long-term observers who will be deployed across the country, and later, for the legislative elections, by an additional 10 long-term observers.

 Since the independence referendum in 1999, the EU has regularly accompanied electoral processes in Timor-Leste by deploying observation missions, the last in 2012.

The Chief Observer, Ms. Bilbao Barandica, said: “I am honored to lead the EU EOM to Timor-Leste. I trust all stakeholders will contribute to ensure that the upcoming elections will further consolidate the country’s track record for well-run, credible and peaceful elections.”

 The arrival comes as eight presidential candidates have been approved for the nation’s third Presidential election on 20 March.

 The  President of Supreme Court, Guilhermino da Silva said the final candidates included:  Francisco Guterres ‘Lu-Olo’ Candidate from FRETILIN Party, António da Conceição Candidate from Democratic Party, José Luis Guterres Independent, Maria Ângela Freitas Independent, Amorin Vieira Independent, José Neves independent, Luis Tilman   Independent and  António Maher Lopes Independent.