Timur said that he was concerned by the direction of political debate and believed the ultimatums were “unhealthy” for the country’s peace and stability.

“People criticize me to not intervene politically, but what I do is to intervene in the state so as to guarantee national stability,” Lere told media on Friday.

The comments come after the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party last month called for the impeachment of President Francisco “Lo Olo” Guterres and for Fretilin’s President, Mari Alkatiri, to separate himself from development work in Oecusse.

CNRT has condemned Lu Olo’s rejection of nine CNRT nominated government members because of corruption investigations. The party also called for Alkatiri to resign as President of the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno because of a conflict of interest.