The former President and Nobel prize winner scored a landslide victory in Timor-Leste’s presidential run-off election last week, securing 62.09% of votes against incumbent Francisco Lu Olo Guterres; 37.9%, according to data from the election secretariat.

Speaking to media, HAK Association Vice-Director Filomena Barros dos Reis, National University Timor-Leste Political Professor Camilo Ximenes, said their organisations wanted action on Horta’s development promises,  insisting improvements to education,  health and agriculture standards.

Barros said HAK, which monitors human rights and democracy in Timor-Leste, also calls for transparent coordination from the returning President.

“Dialogue is always the solution to problems. The elected President of Republic Jose Ramos Horta promised once he was elected he would lead by example …and we expect him to do that,”  Barros said.

With the recommendations, the civil society leaders described what they see as a disappointing Presidential trend to listen to advisors’ advice more than “the voice of people.”

Some 40 per cent of Timorese people continue to live under the poverty line, according to data from recent UN reports.