Ramos-Horta Urges Reform as CPLP Turns 30
The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) must stop trying to act like a regional political bloc and return to its roots in culture and education, Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta told Lusa in an exclusive interview.
Speaking on the occasion of the organization’s 30th anniversary, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate urged the group to be “realistic, courageous, and frontal” about its limitations. He argued that the CPLP has hindered its own progress by attempting to mimic organizations like the European Union or the African Union—entities defined by geography, which the Lusophone community lacks.
“The founders tried to invent a CPLP that was a regional organization,” Ramos-Horta stated. “Therefore, institutions and agendas were created that should have nothing to do with the true nature of the CPLP.”
Prioritizing People over Bureaucracy
Ramos-Horta criticized the proliferation of high-level ministerial meetings that often yield little practical result due to the massive geographical distances between member states. He joked that the organization has become weighed down by unnecessary bureaucracy.
“If distance is an obstacle for heads of state and foreign ministers to travel, don’t invent meetings for health ministers, attorneys general, or even police commanders,” he quipped. “The only thing missing was for them to invent a meeting for traffic police chiefs.”
Instead, the President believes resources should be concentrated on initiatives that directly benefit citizens, such as music, dance, entertainment, and student mobility. He specifically advocated for state-subsidized internship programs and “working holidays” that allow young people to study and work across the nine member nations.
A Success Story at 30
Despite his calls for reform, Ramos-Horta emphasized that reaching three decades is a significant milestone. “An organization reaching 30 years is already a success and an achievement,” he noted.
The CPLP was founded in Lisbon on July 17, 1996, by Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Timor-Leste joined in 2002 following its restoration of independence, and Equatorial Guinea became a member in 2014.
Timor-Leste currently holds the rotating presidency of the organization, having stepped in last December following the suspension of Guinea-Bissau due to a coup d’état.
Image: Pexels – GILBERTO SOARES DOS SANTOS
