José Reis (politician)

José Maria dos Reis is an East Timorese politician, and a member of the Fretilin political party. He is the more junior of East Timor's two incumbent Deputy Prime Ministers, and also the incumbent Minister of Planning and Territory, serving since June 2020 under the VIII Constitutional Government of East Timor led by Taur Matan Ruak. Previously, he served as a Minister, and as a Secretary of State, in earlier Constitutional Governments.

José Maria dos Reis
Reis in 2020
Deputy Prime Minister of East Timor
Assumed office
24 June 2020 (2020-06-24)
Prime MinisterTaur Matan Ruak
Preceded byOffice re-established
Minister of Planning and Territory
Assumed office
24 June 2020 (2020-06-24)
Prime MinisterTaur Matan Ruak
Preceded byOffice established
Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister for Governance Affairs
In office
3 October 2017 (2017-10-03) – 22 June 2018 (2018-06-22)
Prime MinisterMari Alkatiri
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Secretary of State for the Coordination of Region I (Lautem, Viqueque and Baucau)
In office
26 July 2005 (2005-07-26) – 8 August 2007 (2007-08-08)
Prime MinisterMari Alkatiri
(to 26 June 2006)
José Ramos-Horta
(26 June 2006–19 May 2007)
Estanislau da Silva
(from 19 May 2007)
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Member of the National Parliament
In office
2001–2005
Personal details
Political partyFretilin

Early life and career

Reis is a member of a noble family from Bucoli in the Baucau Municipality of East Timor. During the Indonesian occupation, he worked as an official in the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[1]

According to Australian author Jill Joliffe, Reis's older brother, Vicente, "... was one of a group of radical students who ... studied in Portugal and [fell] under the influence of Marxist-Leninist ideas. Yet he [was] never ... connected with fanaticism, nor with the ill-treatment of alleged dissidents ... On the contrary, there [are] many stories of his role as a gentle teacher behind guerilla lines, and he ... died a lingering death from untreated wounds ..."[1]

Political career

Reis is a long time member of Fretilin. In 2001, he was elected as a Fretilin candidate to the Constituent Assembly of East Timor, from which the National Parliament emerged in 2002.[2] On 26 July 2005, he was sworn in as the Secretary of State for the Coordination of Region I (Lautem, Viqueque and Baucau).[3] He held that office until 8 August 2007.[4][5][6]

Reis's house was burned to the ground during the 2006 East Timorese crisis.[7]

On 3 October 2017, Reis was sworn in as Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister for Governance Affairs in the VII Constitutional Government.[8] He remained in that office until the formation of the VIII Constitutional Government on 22 June 2018.[9]

Following a change in the governing coalition, and the admission of Fretilin to the VIII Constitutional Government, Reis was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Territory on 24 June 2020.[10][11]

References
  1. Jolliffe, Jill (2011). Finding Santana: A perilous journey in search of an East Timorese guerilla hero. Kent Town, South Australia: Wakefield Press. p. 104. ISBN 9781862549258.
  2. "LISTA ALFABÉTICA DOS DEPUTADOS". National Parliament of East Timor. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  3. "I Constitutional Government". Government of Timor-Leste. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  4. "II Constitutional Government". Government of Timor-Leste. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  5. "III Constitutional Government". Government of Timor-Leste. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  6. "Gusmao sworn in as East Timor PM". BBC News. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  7. Maynard, Roger (28 June 2006). "Australian troops patrol East Timor capital". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  8. "PR timorense assina novo decreto de nomeação membros do Governo, mais duas mulheres" [Timorese President signs new decree to appoint members of the Government, plus two women]. Diário de Notícias. Lusa. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  9. "Transitional Ministerial Administration". Government of Timor-Leste. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  10. "Swearing-In and organic structure of the Eight Constitutional Government". Government of Timor-Leste. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  11. "Timor-Leste's Eighth Constitutional Government (updated 17 July 2020)". La'o Hamutuk website. La'o Hamutuk: Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis. Retrieved 22 December 2020.

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