The preliminary election count from Saturday’s parliamentary vote gave AMP 34 of 65 seats in parliament giving it a majority to lead government.

Asked to comment on the Prime Minister candidate, AMP President Xanana Gusmao, told reporters the coalition party “had not discussed it”.

Gusmao said a decision would be made public when Khunto’s senior advisor Jose Dos Santos Naimori returned to Timor-Leste.

Khunto, along with the Popular Liberation party joined forces with the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction party to form the AMP party.

Political observer Camilio Ximenes said the decision was a two-person race between CNRT’s leader, Xanana Gusmao or PLP’s leader, Taur Matan Rauk.

 “Both of them can be the Prime Minister depend on the AMP to do the consensus,’’ he said.