With all votes counted, former President Jose Ramos Horta had secured 46.58 per cent, more than twice the share of his rival incumbent President Francisco ‘Lu Olo’ Guterres, but still shy of the 50 per cent majority needed to win in one round.

At the time of print, the national election body had yet to confirm a second round. But if no candidates secure more than 50 per cent of votes, the poll with proceed to a runoff on April 19.

Jose Belo, the President of National Election body, said he expects vote counting to be completed and run-off officially announced by Wednesday.

Speaking at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday Taur Matan Ruak began his speech by congratulating “all the candidates who participated, with mutual respect and tolerance, in this Feast of Democracy” and wishing “good luck to the most voted candidates who now follow for the second round of elections”.

A report released Tuesday by the European Union election observation mission said Timor-Leste’s election campaign  “revealed genuine competition among key contestants, in which the freedoms of expression, assembly and association were well respected.

“However, greatly differing financial resources – in the context of campaign finance rules that do not foresee limits for donations or expenditure – resulted in an uneven playing field,” it added.

“The National Election Commission (CNE) requested candidates not to involve martial and ritual arts groups in campaign activities, and EU observers noted their presence in less than 20 per cent of observed campaign events. The campaign was peaceful overall, with a handful of minor skirmishes between partisan supporters,” the report said.