National Parliament has 65 members, elected every five years through party-list proportional representation voting.

Essentially, if no one party is able to form a majority in its own right, then all the members of parliament subsequently elect the head of government.

The prime minister carries out the function of the head of government.

The current prime minister, as of June 2023, is Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.

Voting is voluntary for all East Timorese citizens over the age of 17.