Timorese Nationalist Party

Timorese Nationalist Party
Partido Nacionalista Timorense
AbbreviationPNT
FounderAbílio Araújo
Founded15 June 1999
IdeologyNationalism
Pre-independence:
Autonomism
Pro-Indonesia
National Parliament
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Party flag

The Timorese Nationalist Party (Indonesian: Partai Nasionalis Timor; Portuguese: Partido Nacionalista Timorense; PNT) is a political party in East Timor. Founder and President is Abílio Araújo, who was FRETILIN representative overseas during the Indonesian occupation until his dismissal in 1993.

Prior to the 1999 East Timorese independence referendum, the PNT advocated an autonomy solution rather than independence from Indonesia. In terms of orientation, it is referred to as progressive national. Indonesian was to remain the official language and the Indonesian rupiah as the currency. Araújo criticized the then President Xanana Gusmão's decision to make Portuguese the official language and in this context repeatedly referred to Gusmão's and José Ramos-Horta's Portuguese roots. An important point in the policy of the PNT is the close friendly relationship with Indonesia. Here it works with the Indonesian party PDI-P.