Alkatiri, also leader of opposition party Fretilin, five-year term is set to end on July 25.

Members of government have routinely criticised some aspects of Alkatiri’s initial management of the RAEOA – when the project was still shared with the central government.

In particular, they have questioned his influence on the President of the Republic, Francisco Lu Olo Guterres –  Fretilin’s president – in relation to some of his budget decisions.

Former Timor-Leste President, Jose Ramos Horta, rejected this argument saying it was “not true,” insisting that Guterres was “super independent” in an interview with Lusa published May 27.

Horta has also said Alkatiri should be reappointed as head of RAEOA.

 “I think it should be renewed if it so desires. The work is almost finished in terms of infrastructure, but now it is necessary that someone like him continues for the next phase, which is to attract private investment,” Horta told Lusa.

“The infrastructure is there, and now we need private investment. It cannot continue to be just the state.”

Miranda Branco, the Chairman of Fretilin, said the party supported Gusmao to replace Alkatiri in National Parliament on Monday.

Under the 2014 law for RAEOA and the Special Zone of Social Market Economy (ZEESM) in Oecusse-Ambeno, a new president of the authority must be selected within 120 days.