Dili, May 28, 2026 (Lusa) – Timor-Leste's parliament approved on Thursday, in general, an amending budget proposal for 2026 with 42 votes in favour and 23 abstentions from the Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor-Leste (Fretilin) and the People's Liberation Party (PLP).

The Timor-Leste government's 2026 proposal outlines seven priority measures, including energy and food security, with total expenditure reaching $271 million (€233 million).

The proposal projects a $101.1 million increase in the General State Budget, raising the total from $2.291 billion (€1.97 billion) to $2.392 billion (€2.06 billion).

"Is the war in the Middle East the reason for recruiting 400 police officers or cadets? Is it because of the war that the government allocates funds to buy tractors? Or to pay for political appointments?" PLP bench leader Maria Angelina Sarmento questioned during the debate.

The MP said that these programmes featured in the government's action plan and should not be reintroduced in the amending budget proposal.

She argued that the government should focus on the productive sector and increase domestic production to contribute to economic growth.

Fretilin MP José da Cruz said that government spending bears no direct relation to the war in the Middle East, which drove up fuel prices.

"Three million for PNTL (National Police of Timor-Leste) recruitment, almost four million for the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse, and two million related to CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) expenses?" the opposition MP asked, referring to other priority measures presented in the rectifying budget.

The discussion on the 2026 amending budget proposal continues on Friday and will run until 2 June.

DPYF/RYOL // ADB.

Lusa