The Constituent Assembly today approved a motion recommending that East Timor's first presidential election be held in the first or second week of April 2002, and that the voting process be universal, direct, and secret.

The assembly also affirmed that the formal transfer of powers and sovereignty from the United Nations to democratically elected East Timorese institutions on 20 May 2002. The recommendations were approved by 68 of the 88 assembly members. Two members voted against the proposals, and there were nine abstentions.

The Independent Electoral Commission's Chief Electoral Officer, Carlos Valenzuela, addressed the assembly before today's vote to outline the modalities the assembly would need to determine quickly so that the election can be organized within a short timeframe. These modalities include the criteria for the registration of political parties and voter participation and the type of electoral system (simple or absolute majority) to be employed.

Valenzuela said the assembly would need to determine these and other issues no later than 15 January in order that the Independent Electoral Commission have sufficient time to organize the process. Valenzuela recommended that a "simple majority" system be employed so that no potential second round run off be necessary. Any run off would likely coincide with East Timor's 20 May independence.