"The CNRT party must reflect on this,” Gusmao told the congress, calling for an extraordinary congress in the “near future” to agree on a new party strategy.

He said a future CNRT must know how it will reach party objectives as a member of the ruling coalition Alliance of Change for Progress (AMP) government.

"CNRT has become a victim in the formation of the AMP government, I think you also feel the same and you don't want anything like this to happen.”

Gusmao described Timor-Leste as a “fragile state,” pointing to political propaganda impacting work in state institutions such as National Parliament, courts and the office of the President of the Republic, and creating political instability.

He said CNRT must also address the corruption labels connected to its senior leaders and  get back to being a party proud of contributing to the nation’s development.

Nine CNRT members are among the dozen politicians rejected by the President of the Republic Francisco Lu Olo Guterres for positions in the government’s ministerial cabinet because of alleged corruption.

Gusmao said CNRT had proudly contributed to Timor-Leste’s economic growth and development from 2007 to 2017 and that the party must get back to its base.

Last year an economic report by Finch solutions predicted Timor-Leste’s real GDP growth to increase  to 4.0% in 2019, from an estimated 2.3% in 2018, but noted  “that risks were weighted to the downside,”

The report said continued stand-offs between the ruling government and the President of the Republic was likely to see further delays in policy-making that would continue to “paralyse the public administration”.

Gusmao said nominations for government members would be discussed at the upcoming congress.