Transcript
Prime minister Mari Alkatiri's Fretilin party won the most votes in the July election but his minority government hasn't been able to pass a budget or programme for the coming term. He faces a strong opposition - an alliance of parties led by the leader of the resistance, Xanana Gusmao, and another former guerilla leader Taur Matan Ruak. The president of the Republic, Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres, who has the power to call an election, is also a former guerilla fighter and Fretilin politician. Mr Alkatiri spent several decades living in exile in Mozambique during the struggle for independence when Indonesia invaded in 1975 and he's also a member of the so-called Generation of '75. Journalist Raimundos Oki says it's a case of old alliances and rivalries holding strong.
"That's why Mari Alkatiri (is) not able to set up the government because the current prime minister .. he was overseas for 24 years but Xanana and Taur Matan Ruak, they (were) in the bush, using guns and fighting against the Indonesians for 24 years."
Raimundos Oki says the resistance leaders still use the clandestine tactics they used in the jungle.
"Politically, there is tension at the high level ... but the local people, they are very smart, let the politicians fight one another. But important for us is we do not fight each other. I'm happy on that."
Fidelis Magalhaes who's in Taur Matan Ruak's PLP party says resistance leaders still have legitimacy in the eyes of the people and their strong camaraderie is good for the country.
"They carry with them not only strong historical credentials, but they have been tested in the field and people know that they can trust the resistance leaders because they've proven themselves to the people."
Mr Magalhaes says the leaders are abiding by the rules which is helping solidify the young democracy.
"We cannot simply just ignore resistance leaders by saying that their presence is no longer useful for the country. In fact for the building of a stronger and a longer more democratic society, longer lasting and more solid society in the long-run, you'd need them for the present time."
The younger politician sees their presence in parliament as a great opportunity.
"This is one perhaps of few opportunities we have to engage them in politics now while they are still around and we are in no hurry to replace them or to substitute them but we see it as as an opportunity where we can learn and we can begin to show to the people that there are alternatives in the long-run and I think the leaders of Timor Leste provide that space for us."
But a researcher with the think tank La'o Humutuk, Juvinal Diaz, says some of the old leaders have changed their tune over the years and many are not ready to lose their power.
"Some leaders were very revolutionary but today they are very pragmatic. Some people were very honest but today, because of the power they change around philosophy from honest to be opportunistic."
Juvinal Diaz says the leaders have five years to liberate the Timorese from poverty or risk falling from power.
