Dili,March 18(AseanAll)  — The Presidency of the Republic of Timor-Leste held a formal handover ceremony on March 18, 2026 at the China Hall of the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace, marking an important transition in its senior leadership.

Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta has appointed Henriqueta Maria da Silva as the new Chief of Staff and Graziela Fátima Liu Soares as the Deputy Chief of Staff. The change follows the promotion of the previous office holder, Jesuína Maria Ferreira Gomes, to Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

During the ceremony, Vice-Minister Jesuína Gomes highlighted the legacy achieved during her mandate, underscoring a budget execution rate of 98% and the modernization of essential infrastructure at the Presidential Palace.

The new leadership team, whose members have held leadership roles at the Presidency since 2022, reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining and consolidating high standards of institutional performance.

Chief of Staff Henriqueta Maria da Silva guaranteed that she will lead a cohesive, results-oriented team aligned with the Head of State’s vision for the remainder of the mandate. She stated that the priority will be to continue strengthening the efficiency and professionalism of the Presidency’s administration.

With this new composition, the Presidency of the Republic intends not only to strengthen its institutional capacity but also to establish itself as an example of inclusive governance, promoting gender equality within State structures.

The transition now finalized aims to ensure that the President’s office continues to play a solid, efficient, and dedicated role in the service of all Timorese citizens.