saying the President was acting in the best interest of the country by rejecting nominated government members involved in corruption investigations.

On Tuesday the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party called for the impeachment of Timor-Leste’s President Francisco “Lu Olo” Guterres over his resistance to inaugurating nine government members from the party.

The party put forward a ten-day ultimatum to Lu Olo to act on their demands.

Dr Ramos-Horta also suggested that putting an ultimatum towards the President would create a political “crisis” that would be “very difficult to solve.”

"The President of the Republic has repeatedly said that he wants people who are members of the government to really serve the government and society," Horta told media on Friday, adding Lu Olo should be respected for his commitment to having a government free of corruption.

The Alliance for Change and Progress (AMP) coalition government has been without nine senior members of government since the first inauguration of the new government in June 22.

The AMP government is also facing mounting public pressure with costs of basic goods increasing and cuts in electricity and medical service spreading due to its stalled budget.

Dr Ramos-Horta said a good outcome for people of Timor-Leste required the government to dialogue with the President.

Manuel Tilman, a senior lawyer, said impeachment would be difficult, as it needed support of two thirds of national parliament.

Under Timorese law the President has the authority to block government choices, according to legal expert Antonio Goncalves. Goncalves said the government’s cabinet was a not a legal issue and should be resolved through good communication.

Mariano Asanami, President of the Democratic Party (PD), called for constraint from the government.

“Political campaigns have been completed let us unite to build this nation in the future,” Asanami told the Independente.