In an interview with the Independente, Manuel Monteiro said the recent action of Xanana Gusmao walking away from the official side of the Alliance For Change and Progress (AMP) coalition government should set an example for dismissed nominated members to follow.

Monteiro said Gusmao had shown conflict of interest had no place in the government by stepping away from the Prime Ministerial Advisor and Strategic Planning Minister positions to focus on on-going oil and gas negotiations.

He said the government must be clean of nepotism and corruption.

On June 22 Lu Olo refused to swear in Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Helder Lopes,Tomás do Rosário Cabral, Vergilho Smith, Jacinto Rigoberto Gomes de Deus, Sérgio Gama da C. Lobo, Amândio de Sá Benevides, José Manuel Soares Turquel de Jesus and António Verdial de Sousa into the new government cabinet.

Monteiro’s comments come as the president of the United Party for Development and Democracy (PUDD, Antonio De Sa Benevides, urged a 100-day review of the efficacy of government members as part of Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak’s duty.

Benevides told reporters the ongoing deadlock in the government’s cabinet should not be used as a distraction to put off the evaluation of government members who he said included people with “no ability.”