Dozens of Timorese from various parts of Portugal vote today in Lisbon
The polls open at 07:00 at the voting center at the Embassy of Timor-Leste, in Belém, and also at the Consulate in Porto. In Lisbon, there were no lines for devotees, but there was a lot of movement and the time was taken to chat with fellow countrymen.
Without specifying the number of voters at 11:00, results that will only be known after the polls close at 15:00, the ambassador of Timor-Leste to Portugal, Isabel Guterres, will arrive at the Lusa agency that the Timorese started early in the morning.
This was the case of Júlia Oliveira, who left Entroncamento early, in the district of Santarém, where she lives, to vote, a right she has never stopped exercising, despite having been living in Portugal for 20 years.
The Timorese, married to a Portuguese, a candidate welcomed the fact that four women, among 16 candidates, ran for presidential women, a record number of candidates at that time.
“I would like to compete with several young people who I would run for in front of Oliveira, having several colleagues sitting on the wall next to several young people, having several candidates for a future selection.
As the polls have already closed in Timor-Leste and the great influence, which for Isabel Guterres was “a sign” in a democratic country and reflecting the “right of each citizen to decide the person he wants to represent him”.
For the diplomat, it is equally important in a democratic country there are 16 candidates: “It is part of our Constitution and it is important to us”.
For a true ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Portuguese Community, Marina Ribeiro Alka, the influence of countries languages: “People are anxious for who will be president, Timor-Leste forward”.
About the vote in Lisbon, he said it was going well. “We hope that until 15:00 there will be a lot of people, because there are people who live in the North and others in the Coimbra area” who still come to vote.
Marina Ribeiro Alkatiri also highlighted the census work that was carried out in all the countries where Timorese are located, such as Portugal and England.
Regarding the registered number of candidates, the ambassador said: “It’s good because people aware of their role and women participate in this party of democracy.”
In the center of Lisbon, where there are two polling stations and a blue ballot box, where votes are deposited, the work never stopped, with the choice without the traditional ink to enter to vote, only after choosing the blue one to vote, only after to paint anti-fraud blue to ensure the credibility of the vote.
Living in Portugal for five years, young Maria Ximenes, who still has a family in Timor, said she was “very happy” to be able to vote in Portugal for the elections in her country.
“I hope everything goes well for whoever wins and for the people of Timor”, stressed Mariana, accompanied by two Timorese.
Henrique Costa has been in Portugal for more than four years, taking his PhD in Political Science at ISCTE, and is currently completing his thesis. Then he will return to his country.
To Lusa, he stressed the importance of having so many candidates for the future, because it gives the opportunity to the Timorese to participate in the country’s political process and not just the leaders of the first generation”.
These are larger, with a number of candidates on the record (16 were from country15,59,6) and stations in the country (18059.6) and stations in the country (159.6) and stations in the country.
In addition to the two polling centers in Portugal, there will also be polling stations in Australia (three), South Korea (one), England (two), Northern Ireland (one).