The 2020 general budget was stalled in January 17, following its rejection by members of the former coalition government party, the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT). Earlier last month CNRT announced its move to opposition leaving a new governing alliance of Fretilin, the People’s Liberation Party and KHUNTO.

"I give members of government three months to prepare the OJE 2020 before it is presented to the National Parliament,” he told reporters following a meeting with the President of the Republic Francisco Lu Olo Guterres.

Ruak also confirmed that the backdated COVID-19 income subsidy would be distributed to 318,000 families on Tuesday 9 June.

The families will each receive US $100 per month, for up to three months.

The announcement comes a day after the Council of Ministers approved an extraordinary transfer of US$286,800,000 from the nation’s Petroleum Fund to the General State Budget to fund the “normal functioning of the Public Administration until the approval of the General State Budget of 2020,” a government statement said.