Timor-Leste’s coalition government cabinet has been nine members short since  President Francisco Lo Olo Guterres rejected several ministerial nominations in June 2018 because of their involvement in corruption investigations.

The CNRT has maintained that its nominated members were innocent until proven guilty, while Guterres has repeatedly called for new cabinet nominations.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, CNRT party leader Duarte Nunes referred to its nominated members as “people who had contributed greatly to the party,” saying it stood by party members until “facts” proved connection with corruption.

Responding to questions about Francisco Kalbuadi Lay’s position in the party, who is among the nine members rejected by Guterres, and appointment a member of parliament on Monday, Nunes said CNRT would keep Lay as the party’s General Secretary.

Nunes said the party’s list of candidates for Parliament were in the hands of the Prime Minister to find a solution “together” with the President of the Republic.

Sabino Guntur from the People's Liberation party (PLP), said Ruak had the power to replace candidate Minister Francisco Kalbuady Lay, but the move must first be approved by CNRT.

Despite their rejection for cabinet positions Lay and CNRT party nominee Antonio Verdial have both returned to parliament.

In a letter to Guterres issued last year, CNRT said it guaranteed its members would have to stand trial if any charges of graft or other wrongdoing were levelled against them.

When this had no impact on the President, the party responded by issuing a statement on August 7, 2018, threatening to impeach Guterres if he failed to approve the nominations "within 10 days."

"We want to say … that these people are the top leadership of the CNRT who have been voted in and been entrusted by the people of our nation," it said.

"And it is only these people that we, the organisational structure of the CNRT in the municipalities, have placed our trust in," continued the statement, which was released shortly after the party's congress

When contacted by the Independente Lay said he had no comment on his position in parliament or as General Secretary of CNRT.

Meanwhile, Daniel dos Santos do Carmo, the Executive Director of the NGO Forum Timor–Leste (FONGTIL), has warned of a failed roll-out of government’s 2019 State budget and programming if the cabinet stand-off continues.

He told the Independente there were “many capable and clever people in the CNRT camp” that could replace nominated members.

Carmo called on the Prime Minister to take firm action and immediately appoint government members to implement the 2019 State budget.