Xanana Gusmão
| Xanana Gusmão | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Prime Minister of East Timor | |
|
In office 8 August 2007 – 16 February 2015 |
|
| President |
José Ramos-Horta Taur Matan Ruak |
| Preceded by | Estanislau da Silva |
| Succeeded by | Rui Maria de Araújo |
| President of East Timor | |
|
In office 20 May 2002 – 20 May 2007 |
|
| Prime Minister |
Mari Alkatiri José Ramos-Horta Estanislau da Silva |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | José Ramos-Horta |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
José Alexandre Gusmão 20 June 1946 Manatuto, Portuguese Timor (now East Timor) |
| Political party | National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction |
| Spouse(s) | Emilia Batista (1965–2000) Kirsty Sword (2000–present, [separated]) |
| Children | 5 |
| Signature |  |
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão (Portuguese pronunciation: [kaj ˈɾalɐ ʃɐˈnɐnɐ ɣuʒˈmɐ̃w̃], born José Alexandre Gusmão, IPA: [ʒuˈzɛ ɐlɨˈʃɐ̃dɾɨ], on 20 June 1946) is an East Timorese politician. A former militant, he was the first President of East Timor, serving from May 2002 to May 2007. He then became the fourth Prime Minister of East Timor, serving from 8 August 2007 to 16 February 2015. He has been Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment since February 2015.
Gusmão was born to parents of mixed Portuguese-Timorese ancestry, both of whom were school teachers in Manatuto in what was then Portuguese Timor, and attended a Jesuit high school just outside Dili. After leaving high-school for financial reasons at the age of fifteen, he held a variety of unskilled jobs, while continuing his education at night school. In 1965, at the age of 19, he met Emilia Batista, who was later to become his wife. His nickname, "Xanana", was taken from the name of the American rock and roll band Sha Na Na, who in turn were named after a lyric from a doo-wop song of 1957 by the Silhouettes.
In 1966, Gusmão obtained a position with the public service, which allowed him to continue his education. This was interrupted in 1968 when Gusmão was recruited by the Portuguese Army for national service. He served for three years, rising to the rank of corporal. During this time, he married Emilia Batista, with whom he had a son Eugenio, and a daughter Zenilda. He has since divorced Emilia, and in 2000, he married Australian Kirsty Sword, with whom he had three sons: Alexandre, Kay Olok and Daniel. In 1971, Gusmão completed his national service, his son was born, and he became involved with a nationalist organisation headed by José Ramos-Horta. For the next three years he was actively involved in peaceful protests directed at the colonial system.
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