José Ramos-Horta
José Ramos-Horta | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2023 | |
| 4th & 7th President of Timor-Leste | |
| Assumed office 20 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Taur Matan Ruak Xanana Gusmão |
| Preceded by | Francisco Guterres |
| In office 20 May 2007 – 20 May 2012 | |
| Prime Minister | Estanislau da Silva Xanana Gusmão |
| Preceded by | Xanana Gusmão |
| Succeeded by | Taur Matan Ruak |
| 3rd Prime Minister of Timor-Leste | |
| In office 26 June 2006 – 19 May 2007 | |
| President | Xanana Gusmão |
| Preceded by | Mari Alkatiri |
| Succeeded by | Estanislau da Silva |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 27 September 2002 – 25 June 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Mari Alkatiri |
| Succeeded by | José Luís Guterres |
| Personal details | |
| Born | José Manuel Ramos-Horta 26 December 1949 |
| Party | CNRT (2022–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Fretilin (until 1988) Independent (1988–2022) |
| Spouse | Ana Pessoa (divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Antioch University (MA) |
| Signature | |
José Manuel Ramos-Horta (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒuˈzɛ ˈʁɐ̃muz ˈɔɾtɐ]; born 26 December 1949) is an East Timorese politician who has been the seventh president of Timor-Leste since 2022, having previously been the fourth president from 2007 to 2012. He was a co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, along with Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, for working "towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor".
As a founder and former member of Fretilin, Ramos-Horta served as the exiled spokesman for the East Timorese resistance during the Indonesian occupation of East Timor (1975–1999). While he continued to work with Fretilin, he resigned from the party in 1988, becoming an independent politician.
After Timor-Leste (East Timor) achieved independence in 2002, Ramos-Horta was appointed as the country's first foreign minister. He served in this position until his resignation on 25 June 2006, amidst political turmoil. On 26 June 2006, following the resignation of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, Ramos-Horta was appointed as acting prime minister by President Xanana Gusmão. Two weeks later, on 10 July 2006, he was sworn in as the second prime minister of Timor-Leste. He was elected as President in 2007. On 11 February 2008, he was shot during an assassination attempt.
After leaving office as president in 2012, Ramos-Horta was appointed as the United Nations' Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) on 2 January 2013. He was re-elected to the presidency in 2022.