The Prime Minister of East Timor, Xanana Gusmão, argued today that the rectifying State Budget aims to “respond to an urgent crisis” and “ensure fiscal stability in a context of global instability.”
The Timorese leader was speaking in parliament at the beginning of the general debate on the proposed amendment to the 2026 General State Budget.
According to the prime minister, the amendment proposal combines a series of “internal budgetary reallocations, available cash balances, carryover resources, and higher-than-expected domestic revenues in order to support the aforementioned additional measures.”
“We are responding to an urgent crisis, but without putting immediate additional pressure on the Petroleum Fund,” Xanana Gusmão stated.
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The proposal includes seven priority measures, including energy and food security, totaling an expenditure of 271 million dollars (approximately 233 million euros).
Of that total, 79 million dollars (67.98 million euros) correspond to amendments and reallocations already carried out, while 192 million dollars (165.23 million euros) represent the amount submitted for parliamentary approval.
Out of the 192 million dollars, 90.9 million (78.22 million euros) are reallocations between entities and 101.1 million dollars (87 million euros) come from additional sources of financing.
The proposal foresees an increase to the General State Budget of 101.1 million dollars, rising from 2,291 million dollars (1.97 billion euros) to 2,392.1 million dollars (2.06 billion euros).
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“The Government will continue to invest in roads and bridges, in improving schools and health services, in supporting agriculture and tourism, in supporting the private sector, and in creating opportunities for young people,” Xanana Gusmão emphasized.
The leader of the Timorese Government also argued that a “responsible State must have the capacity to respond quickly to new shocks, whether they result from energy markets, food prices, natural disasters, or other unexpected events.”
The detailed debate will begin on Friday, and the final global vote on the proposal is expected to take place on June 2.
