“The president welcomed the coalition’s provisions laid out in our letter to form a new government, but there are some requirements the President would like us to meet first,” Conceição told reporters.

Conceição, the secretary of the Democratic Party (PD), one of six parties in the alternative alliance, said the coalition was “not in a position” to respond to the President’s requests and that a “meeting would be conducted by alliance members to sort out procedures required by the President.”

Guterres’s requirements were outlined during a meeting on Friday where Gusmão presented his new six-party coalition.

It’s Gusmão’s first formal meeting with the President since October 2018.

Gusmão boycotted the swearing-in ceremony in protest, and the issue caused tensions within the ruling Alliance for Change and Progress (AMP) Alliance from the beginning of its term in power.

Conceição added that the decision on who would lead the coalition as Prime Minister, if it forms government, is yet to be decided.

“This morning, the coalition did not present a proposal for a new Prime Minister to the president, because article nine of the political party rules has not yet been fulfilled,” he said.

The meeting comes almost a week after Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak sent a letter of resignation to Guterres, after the collapse of his coalition during the budget vote, throwing Timor-Leste into political uncertainty.

Former President José Ramos-Horta wrote on social media last week: “We pray for our leader, the president, and the new coalition, that they can find a way to resolve the political crisis.”

Guterres is yet to approve or reject Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak’s resignation, who remains in his role.

Gusmão’s new coalition which is yet to be given a name includes: PD President, Mariano Assanami Sabino; KHUNTO president, Armanda Berta dos Santos; UDT president, Rudolfo Apparicio Guterres; Interim President of Frente Mudanca, Egídio de Jesus; and president of PUDD, António de Sá Benevides.