East Timor OKs Draft of Charter

East Timor’s constituent assembly Saturday approved a draft of a new constitution, which provides for a legislature, a judiciary and a president whose role is mostly symbolic.

The final document is expected to be officially adopted in early March and to take effect in May.

Later this month, officials are scheduled to tour the country collecting suggestions for changes. After the five-day consultation, the assembly will consider amendments before approving the national charter.

“The system we have chosen is loosely based on the Portuguese system. It is mostly parliamentary with a weak presidency,” said Arlindo Marcal, the assembly’s deputy speaker.

The head of state will be dependent on the support of the political parties.

The 88-member assembly voted 65-0 to approve the draft. Thirteen lawmakers abstained, and 10 were absent.

East Timor was a Portuguese colony for 350 years before being invaded by Indonesia in 1975.

It has been under U.N. administration since 1999, after widespread fighting that followed a vote by a majority of its 700,000 people for independence from Indonesia.

The territory, which occupies half of Timor island, is scheduled to achieve full independence May 20. A president will be elected April 14. Jose Alexandre “Xanana” Gusmao, East Timor’s charismatic independence leader, is widely expected to win.