East Timor's generational divide in play during presidential polls

Allure of old-school independence fighters fades as younger candidates emerge

20220317 From left Jose Ramos Horta, Milena Pires and Lu Olo

From left: Presidential candidates Jose Ramos Horta, Milena Pires and incumbent Francisco 'Lu-Olo' Guterres (Source photos by AP, AFP/Jiji and Kyodo)

RANDY MULYANTO and SOPHIE RAYNOR, Contributing writers

March 18, 2022 16:14 JST

JAKARTA/PERTH -- East Timor will go to the polls on Saturday to choose a new president out of 16 candidates, the most ever competing for the future of the resource-rich country, with a large number of female hopefuls and increased representation from rural and working-class backgrounds.