Post-election, Timor-Leste faces unexpected political uncertainty

East Timorese politics remain in a post-election limbo as the parties elected to parliament just over a fortnight ago negotiate to form government. Despite early optimism that the broad outlines of a new administration might be known quickly, the recent developments suggest an outcome is at least a week away, and possibly longer. Negotiations have begun in earnest now that the major parties have held conferences to determine their own approaches to the deal-making. The 22 July election saw the two main parties - Fretilin and CNRT - once again take the majority of the vote, with 29.7 per cent and 29.5 per cent respectively. In a significant twist, Fretilin narrowly beat the previously dominant CNRT, led by former resistance leader and ex-PM Xanana Gusmão, resulting in a slim but important lead of twenty-three seats to CNRT’s twenty-two.