Published on: 04/20/2022 – 12:43 The citizens of East Timor have elected José Ramos-Horta as head of the country according to initial results published on Wednesday. The former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate is due to take office on May 20. The former head of state regains his seat. Nobel peace laureate José Ramos-Horta has won the presidential election in East Timor, according to preliminary results announced Wednesday, April 20 by electoral authorities.Jose Ramos-Horta, who had already led the country between 2007 and 2012, has obtained 62.09% of the votes against 37.91% for the outgoing president Francisco “Lu Olo” Guterres. This duel in the second round was identical to that of 2007, already won hands down (with 69% of the votes) by José Ramos -Horta. At 72, this former revolutionary hero and Nobel Peace Prize laureate will begin his five-year term on May 20, the 20th anniversary of East Timor’s independence from 24 years of Indonesian occupation. He has promised to resolve a political deadlock lasting several years in this former Portuguese colony of 1.3 million inhabitants, due to a clash between the two main political forces. The country, located on the island of Timor shared with Indonesia, is still suffering the consequences of the Covid pandemic -19 on its economy. According to the World Bank, 42% of the population lives in poverty. With AFP