Francisco Kalbuadi Lay

Lay was born in the then Portuguese Timor.{{cite book |last1=Aditjondro |first1=George J. |author1-link=George Junus Aditjondro |title=Timor Lorosa'e on the Crossroads: Timor Lorosa'e's transformation from Jakarta's colony to a global capitalist Outpost |date=2001 |publisher=CeDSoS (Center for Democracy and Social Justice Studies} |location=Jakarta |isbn=9799653401 |url=https://groups.google.com/g/misc.activism.progressive/c/V5rCNoJbQl8?pli=1}} In 1977, he was captured by the Indonesian army, and started living with Lieutenant General Dading Kalbuadi,{{cite journal |author1= |title=UN Timor Developments |journal=TAPOL Report |date=24 February 1994 |url=http://www.library.ohiou.edu/indopubs/1994/02/24/0000.html |access-date=30 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041107173220/http://www.library.ohiou.edu:80/indopubs/1994/02/24/0000.html |archive-date=7 November 2004 |url-status=dead}} commander of the Kopassus special forces who had infiltrated Portuguese Timor in the lead up to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.{{Cite web |last=Hidayat |first=Bebet I |title=Kisah Kolonel Dading di Operasi Seroja Timor Timur Kini Timor Leste, Hanya Modal Topi & Celana Jeans |trans-title=The Story of Colonel Dading in Operation Seroja East Timor Now Timor Leste, Wearing Only a Hat & Jeans |work=Pos-kupang.com |date=4 September 2020 |url=https://kupang.tribunnews.com/amp/2020/09/04/kisah-kolonel-dading-di-operasi-seroja-timor-timur-kini-timor-leste-hanya-modal-topi-celana-jeans?page=all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719031012/https://kupang.tribunnews.com/amp/2020/09/04/kisah-kolonel-dading-di-operasi-seroja-timor-timur-kini-timor-leste-hanya-modal-topi-celana-jeans?pa |archive-date=19 July 2022 |access-date=2024-12-30 |language=id}} Kalbuadi adopted Lay as his son,{{cite news |author1= |title=Larger Than Life: Dading Kalbuadi |url=https://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/magazine/99/1231/year.deaths.html |url-status=dead |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=Asiaweek |issn=1012-6244 |date=31 December 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129165517/https://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/magazine/99/1231/year.deaths.html |archive-date=29 January 2011}} and Lay therefore took the general's family name.

As of early 1988, Lay was manager of CV Amigo, a company owned by General Kalbuadi that was operating in East Timor.{{cite journal |author1= |title=How monopolies control an Indonesian colony |journal=TAPOL Bulletin |issn=1356-1154 |volume=85 |date=February 1988 |url=https://vuir.vu.edu.au/26215/1/TAPOL85_compressed.pdf |access-date=30 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717201630/https://vuir.vu.edu.au/26215/1/TAPOL85_compressed.pdf |archive-date=17 July 2018 |url-status=live |pages=12–13}} At the beginning of the 1990s, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, also known as Tutut, eldest daughter of then Indonesian President Suharto, asked Lay, then chair of the East Timorese branch of the Jakarta-backed {{ill|Indonesian National Youth Committee|id|Komite Nasional Pemuda Indonesia}} ({{langx|id|Komite Nasional Pemuda Indonesia}}, KNPI), to chair one of her charities, the Tiara Foundation, in Dili.{{cite journal |author1= |title=Timorese youth being transferred to Java |journal=TAPOL Bulletin |issn=1356-1154 |volume=106 |date=August 1991 |url=https://vuir.vu.edu.au/26109/1/TAPOL106_compressed.pdf |access-date=30 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717192519/https://vuir.vu.edu.au/26109/1/TAPOL106_compressed.pdf |archive-date=17 July 2018 |url-status=live |page=10}}

According to George Junus Aditjondro, an Indonesian critic of the Suharto government, and in particular its activities concerning East Timor:

{{Blockquote|text="The Tiara foundation recruited young Timorese to work in Indonesian factories owned by members and cronies of the Suharto family. This scheme, which initially enjoyed the blessing of Bishop [Carlos] Belo and then Governor [of East Timor] Mario Carrascalao, eventually left around 800 young underpaid Timorese stranded in Indonesia, with many young Timorese dying of unnatural causes in Indonesia and also some of them forming a military-backed gang in Jakarta."}}

TAPOL, a British NGO established to monitor human rights issues in Indonesia, reported in 1991 that the scheme was "... being encouraged by the military on the assumption that rebelliousness among young East Timorese is caused by unemployment and dissatisfaction with their lot," and that "Tutut's recruitment drive [had] the approval of BAIS, the Strategic Intelligence Agency, which [was] keen to reduce the political pressure in East Timor." However, the report went on to comment that the 'training' under the scheme was just a "two-week indoctrination course", that scheme participants were "low-paid", and that discontent with the scheme had caused tensions between local workers and Timorese in both Semarang and Bandung.

The Tiara Foundation scheme proved to be so controversial that Lay went abroad for a short period. Following his return, he was recruited by {{ill|Domingos Maria das Dores Soares|de|lt=Domingos Soares}}, another collaborator with the Indonesians, to manage a provincial government-protected illicit gambling business at Tasitolu near Dili. He was soon fired, amidst allegations that he had embezzled large sums of money from the business. Bishop Belo then recruited him to manage the Don Carlos Foundation, one of the charities of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dili. In that capacity, Lay travelled with the bishop to Australia shortly before the UN-supervised East Timorese independence referendum in 1999; at the end of that year, Asiaweek described him as an "aide" to Belo.

Meanwhile, Lay had also been involved in other activities. For a long time, he was an informant for the Combined Intelligence Task Force ({{langx|id|Satuan Tugas Intelijen|link=no}}, SGI),{{cite book |last1=McDonald |first1=Hamish |last2=Ball |first2=Desmond |last3=Dunn |first3=James |last4=van Klinken |first4=Gerry |last5=Bourchier |first5=David |last6=Kammen |first6=Douglas |last7=Tanter |first7=Richard |author1-link=Hamish McDonald |author2-link=Des Ball |author3-link=James Dunn (diplomat) |display-authors=3 |title=Masters of Terror: Indonesia's militarv and violence in East Timor in 1999 |series=Canberra papers on strategy and defence 145 |date=2002 |publisher=Australian National University |location=Canberra |isbn=0731554191 |pages=82, 211 |url=https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstreams/f3ab0f12-1c77-43b7-bff6-2f91fb7cc53d/download}} the intelligence arm of Kopassus.{{cite news |last1=Toohey |first1=Brian |title=Pain from 'honest' exercise |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/pain-from-honest-exercise-19990601-k8u3t |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=Australian Financial Review |date=1 June 1999}} In early 1994, TAPOL reported that Lay had travelled to Geneva with an Indonesian delegation that was negotiating with the UN Human Rights Commission over a possible chairman's consensus statement concerning East Timor. Lay's specific task, according to TAPOL, was "to keep watch over" Xavier do Amaral, who had briefly been the inaugural president of East Timor in 1975, and was part of the Indonesian delegation. The TAPOL report also asserted that Lay had accompanied Amaral to 'reconciliation talks' about East Timor held near London in December 1993.{{cite journal |author1= |title='Reconciliation' talks in Britain |journal=Timor Link |date=January 1994 |issue=28 |url=https://vuir.vu.edu.au/25961/1/TIMORLINK28_compressed.pdf |access-date=6 January 2025}}

Additionally, in 1998 Lay and two other Timorese businessmen, {{ill|Oscar Lima|de}} and Ahmad Alkatiri, a younger brother of Mari Alkatiri, combined with Gerry Hand, a former minister in Australia's Hawke and Keating governments, to plan a 30- to 40-room hotel in Dili, and tender for a 400-room complex also in Dili. Hand had been, but was no longer, running several joint ventures on Christmas Island with Robby Sumampouw, a prominent Indonesian businessman. In mid-1998, columnist Brian Toohey wrote in the Australian Financial Review that:

{{Blockquote|text="Hand attracted ... controversy by representing ... Sumampow, whom he has described as 'a very good friend'.

Although Hand [had] been a vocal critic of Indonesia's occupation of East Timor, Sumampow made a large part of his fortune by gaining a lucrative share of the former Portuguese colony's coffee, sandalwood, marble, hotel and retail industries. Sumpampow's access to East Timor was facilitated by his close association with General Benny Moerdani, who planned the 1975 [Indonesian] invasion [of the former colony]."{{cite news |last1=Toohey |first1=Brian |title=Australian cronies and other capitalists |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/australian-cronies-and-other-capitalists-19980711-jgm0z |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=Australian Financial Review |date=11 July 1998}}

Lay has been described by The Oekusi Post as "a great football player".{{cite news |author1= |title=The secret factor behind the victory of the CNRT party in the two elections in Timor-Leste |url=https://www.oekusipost.com/en/editorial/1632-the-secret-factor-behind-the-victory-of-the-cnrt-party-in-the-two-elections-in-timor- |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=The Oekusi Post |date=4 June 2023 |language=en-gb}} He was president of the Timor-Leste Football Federation ({{langx|pt|Federação Futebol Timor-Leste|link=no}} (FFTL)) from 2002 to 2007, and again from 2008 to 2018.{{cite web |author1= |title=About Us |url=https://www.fftl.tl/en-us/about.aspx |website=Timor-Leste Football Federation |access-date=5 January 2025}}{{cite web |title=Comitê Olímpico Nacional de Timor-Leste: President |url=https://www.anocolympic.org/nocs-directory/comite-olimpico-nacional-de-timor-leste/16677 |website=Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) |access-date=5 January 2025}}

He also served as one of the vice presidents of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) from 2011 to 2015,{{cite web |author1= |title=Sultan Ahmad Shah wins Second Term as AFF President |url=https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/sultan-ahmad-shah-wins-second-term-as-aff-president/ |website=ASEAN Football Federation |access-date=5 January 2025 |date=22 August 2015}} as a member of the executive committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) from 2015 to 2019,{{cite web |author1= |title=Recently elected AFC Executive Committee set for first meeting |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/about_afc/the_president/news/recently_elected_afc_executive_committee_set_for_first_meeting.html |website=Asian Football Federation |access-date=5 January 2025 |language=en |date=8 July 2015}} and again as a vice president of the AFF from 2019 to 2023.{{cite web |author1= |title=Maj Gen Khiev Sameth is the new AFF President |url=https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/maj-gen-khiev-sameth-is-the-new-aff-president/ |website=ASEAN Football Federation |access-date=5 January 2025 |date=17 March 2019}}{{cite web |author1= |title=AFF finalise Vice-Presidents line-up |url=https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/aff-finalise-vice-presidents-line-up/ |website=ASEAN Football Federation |access-date=5 January 2025 |date=22 June 2019}}

Lay's terms of office as president of the FFTL, and also the interregnum between them, were marred by controversy. In 2007, the 13 FFTL voting members called an extraordinary congress, and purported to elect Pedro Carrascalão as president. Carrascalão alleged that the FFTL members had been forced to initiate the extraordinary congress because the FFTL had failed to hold a regular congress, including a presidential vote, on time. He also claimed that members were concerned about possible corruption. When Lay declared that the extraordinary congress was 'illegal', Carrascalão wrote to the AFC setting out his allegations against Lay and the FFTL, and asking the AFC to investigate the matter. He later travelled to Kuala Lumpur to meet with the AFC, which indicated that it would only recognise Lay as the FFTL's president. Carrascalão then decided to abandon his post.{{cite web |last1=Kerr |first1=Jack |title=East Timorese football accused of further corruption |url=https://www.sportsintegrityinitiative.com/east-timorese-football-accused-corruption/ |website=The Sports Integrity Initiative |access-date=6 January 2025 |date=5 December 2016}}

In 2012, Lay became embroiled in a different controversy, when an internal audit of the AFC found that its president, Mohammed bin Hammam of Qatar, had routinely given tens of thousands of dollars in cash to federation presidents and their families, including {{US$}}50,000 to Lay,{{cite news |author1= |title=Bin Hammam investigation intensifies |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2012/8/6/bin-hammam-investigation-intensifies |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=Al Jazeera |agency=AP |date=6 August 2012 |language=en}}{{cite news |author1= |title=Timor-Leste castigado por contratação ilegal de brasileiros |trans-title=East Timor punished for illegal hiring of Brazilians |url=https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/desporto/726468/timor-leste-castigado-por-contratacao-ilegal-de-brasileiros |access-date=6 January 2025 |work={{ill|Notícias ao Minuto|pt}} |agency=Lusa |date=20 January 2017 |language=pt}} Bin Hammam was later banned from football for life, on the grounds that he had had "conflicts of interest" while AFC president.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20762363|title=Fifa ban Mohammed Bin Hammam for life after he quits football |work=BBC Sport |date=17 December 2012 |accessdate=24 September 2014}} for "personal expenses".

Subsequently, in early 2015, ahead of the preliminary World Cup qualifiers, Lay declared, on the FIFA website, that "[i]t doesn't matter if Timor win, the most important thing is that football wins." In September of that year, however, two East Timorese were imprisoned in Singapore for attempting, with a key associate of notorious match fixer, Dan Tan, and an Indonesian referee, to fix Timor-Leste's opening football match at that year's South-East Asian Games.{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Jack |title=Match-fixing within Timor's under 23s sees highest sentence ever imposed, many players allegedly involved in corruption |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-08/soccer-corruption-in-east-timor/6922014 |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=ABC News (Australia) |date=8 November 2015 |language=en-AU}} The following month, October 2015, the Palestinian Football Association formally requested that FIFA investigate the eligibility of seven Brazilian-born footballers who had played for Timor-Leste that month in a World Cup qualifying match.{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Jack |title=Palestine protests East Timor's use of Brazilian players in FIFA World Cup qualifier |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/palestine-protests-east-timors-use-of-brazilian-players-in-fifa-world-cup-qualifier-20151017-gkbhue.html |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |agency=(first published in The New York Times) |date=16 October 2015 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Jack |title=Darwin soccer player who captained Timor-Leste opens up on team's FIFA controversy |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-08/darwin-based-soccer-player-breaks-silence-on-fifa-allegations/6901784 |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=ABC News (Australia) |date=8 November 2015 |language=en-AU}} The request also triggered a parliamentary inquiry, and caused activists to take to the streets to demand change.

In the immediate aftermath of the request, the FFTL ceased using Brazilian players in the Timor-Leste national team. But when the federation resumed selecting the Brazilians in June 2016, the CFA disciplinary committee initiated an investigation. In December 2016, the Lusa News Agency reported that a decision on the issue was expected soon, as the investigation had concluded that Brazilian players had been registered for the Timor-Leste national team with false birth or baptism certificates.{{cite news |title=Komité disiplinár hosi Konfederasaun Aziátika Futeból analiza kona-ba uza jogadór brazileiru sira iha Timor-Leste |trans-title=Asian Football Confederation discipline committee analyzes the use of Brazilian players in Timor-Leste |url=https://sapodesportu.blogs.sapo.pt/komite-disiplinar-hosi-konfederasaun-325641 |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=SAPO TL |date=12 December 2016 |language=tet}}

On 20 January 2017, the disciplinary committee decided to exclude Timor-Leste from the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, fined the FFTL {{US$}}20,000. As the Brazilians had played in 29 games sanctioned by the CFA, the disciplinary committee also ruled that Timor-Leste forfeited those games, and fined the FFTL a further {{US$}}50,000 suspended for a two-year probationary period. The Brazilians had also played in seven games sanctioned by FIFA, and the disciplinary committee notified FIFA of its decision. Additionally, the committee banned the secretary general of the FFTL, Amândio de Araújo Sarmento, from football-related activities for three years and fined him {{US$}}9,000, and fined another FFTL official, Gelásio Da Silva Carvalho, {{US$}}3,000 for attempting to interfere with the investigation.{{cite news |last1=Dunbar |first1=Graham |title=East Timor expelled from Asian Cup for identity scam |url=https://apnews.com/east-timor-expelled-from-asian-cup-for-identity-scam-af6e2a610c034899a776fcdd7e917509 |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=AP News |agency=Associated Press |date=20 January 2017 |language=en}} The AFC statement announcing the committee's decision did not mention Lay.

In response to the decision, {{ill|Nilton Gusmão dos Santos|de|lt=Nilton Gusmão}}, head of Liga Futebol Amadora (LFA), the country's domestic football competition, called for a full substitution of the FFTL board by the LFA board.{{cite news |last1=Costa |first1=Domingos da |title=Nilton Gusmão Calls [for] Full Substitution of Timor-Leste Football Federation |url=https://www.independente.tl/en/sport/nilton-gusmao-calls-full-substitution-of-timor-leste-football-federation |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=Jornal Independente, Timor-Leste |date=31 January 2017 |language=en}} According to Dili newspaper Jornal Independente, Lay had "... said that the [FFTL] board had ordered the falsifications." Later that year, {{ill|Osório Costa|de}}, hitherto the vice president of the FFTL, became acting president;{{cite web |title=FEDERACAO FUTEBOL TIMOR-LESTE (FFTL) |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/news/federacao_futebol_timor-leste_fftl.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125162909/https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/news/federacao_futebol_timor-leste_fftl.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 January 2022 |website=Asian Football Federation |access-date=6 January 2025 |date=16 August 2017}} Lay's permanent replacement, Francisco Jerónimo, was elected on 24 February 2018.{{cite news |last1=Freitas |first1=Xisto |title=Francisco Jerónimo Eleitu Sai Prezidente FFTL |trans-title=Francisco Jerónimo elected as President of the FFTL |url=https://tatoli.tl/2018/02/24/francisco-jeronimo-eleitu-sai-prezidente-fftl/ |access-date=6 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=24 February 2018 |language=tet}}

On 18 November 2013, Lay was elected President of the National Olympic Committee of Timor-Leste ({{langx|pt|Comitê Olímpico Nacional de Timor-Leste|link=no}} (CONTL)). He was reelected to that position on 16 January 2018, and again on 14 June 2022, in the latter case by acclamation at a general assembly attended by 21 national sporting federations.{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Patrick |title=Kalbuadi Lay re-elected for third term as Timor-Leste NOC President |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1124578/kalbuadi-lay-re-elected-timor-leste-noc |website=insidethegames.biz |access-date=5 January 2025 |date=17 June 2022}}

Lay began his political career as a member of the Fretilin party. In 2001, he was elected as a Fretilin candidate to the Constituent Assembly of East Timor, from which the National Parliament emerged in 2002.{{cite web |title=LISTA ALFABÉTICA DOS DEPUTADOS |url=http://www.parlamento.tl/LISTA_ALF.htm |website=National Parliament of East Timor |access-date=2023-08-03 |language=pt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928024904/http://www.parlamento.tl/LISTA%20ALF.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007 }}{{cite web |title=Deputados Legislatura 2002-2007 |url=https://www.parlamento.tl/conteudo/deputados-legislatura-2002-2007 |website=National Parliament of East Timor |access-date=2023-08-03 |language=pt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702122520/https://www.parlamento.tl/conteudo/deputados-legislatura-2002-2007 |archive-date=2 July 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite book |last1=Devereux |first1=Annemarie |title=Timor-Leste's Bill of Rights: A Preliminary History |date=2015 |publisher=ANU Press |location=Acton, ACT |isbn=9781925022391 |page=306 |url=https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p318471/pdf/book.pdf}} During that legislative term, he was one of three members nominated by the Constituent Assembly to join the commission responsible for assessing the needs of the future National Parliament,{{cite press release |author= |date=12 February 2002 |title=Constituent Assembly Consultation schedule revised |url=https://www.etan.org/et2002a/february/10-16/12const.htm |location=Dili |publisher=Constitutent Assembly of East Timor |access-date=3 January 2025}} and was later President of the Economics and Finance Commission of the National Parliament.{{Cite Hansard |jurisdiction=New South Wales |title=East Timorese Community Events |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20030703036 |house=Legislative Assembly |date=2003-07-03 |page=2874 |speaker=Paul Lynch |position=Member for Liverpool |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401055913/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20030703036 |archive-date=2011-04-01 |url-status=dead}}

Lay was not included in the list of candidates for the 2007 parliamentary election.{{cite web |author1= |title=List of admitted candidates for National Parliament election 30 June 2007 |url=https://www.etan.org/etanpdf/2007/Listas%20de%20candidatos%20admitidas_21%20Maio%2020071.pdf |publisher=Comissão Nacional de Eleições |access-date=3 January 2025 |location=Dili |date=21 May 2007}} By 2012, he had switched his allegiance to the CNRT; he served as President of the CNRT's political campaigns committee for that year's parliamentary election,{{cite news |author1= |title=Gusmao thanks participation of people in elections |url=http://www.timornewsline.com/election/447-gusmao-thanks-participation-of-people-in-elections |access-date=2023-08-08 |work=Timor Newsline |date=2012-07-12 |url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216231440/http://www.timornewsline.com/election/447-gusmao-thanks-participation-of-people-in-elections#selection-1195.0-1195.50 |archive-date=2013-02-16}} but once again was not in the list of candidates.{{cite book |author1= |title=Compendium of the 2012 Elections in Timor-Leste |date=21 June 2012 |publisher=UNMIT and UNDP |location=Dili |url=https://unmit.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/old_dnn/Compendium%20of%20the%202012%20Elections%20-%2021%20June.pdf}}

File:Francisco Kalbuadi Lay Tourismusminister 2015-08-03.jpg

On 8 August 2012, Lay was sworn in as the Minister of Tourism in the V Constitutional Government led by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.{{cite web |title=Swearing in of the V Constitutional Government |url=http://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=7127&lang=en&lang=en |website=Government of Timor-Leste |access-date=2023-08-09 |date=9 August 2012}}{{cite web |title=V Constitutional Government |url=http://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=11254&lang=en |website=Government of Timor-Leste |access-date=2023-08-09}} When that Constitutional Government was replaced on 16 February 2015 by the VI Constitutional Government led by new Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araújo, Lay continued as a minister, under the new designation Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.{{cite web |title=VI Constitutional Government is sworn-in |url=http://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=11261&lang=en&lang=en |website=Government of Timor-Leste |access-date=2023-08-09 |date=16 February 2015}}{{cite web |title=VI Constitutional Government |url=http://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=18770&lang=en |website=Government of Timor-Leste |access-date=2023-08-09}}

In 2017, Lay defeated the incumbent Secretary General of the CNRT, Dionísio Babo Soares, in an election for that post at the party congress.{{cite news |author1= |title=Xanana continua presidente do maior partido de Timor-Leste, Kalbuadi eleito secretário-geral |trans-title=Xanana remains president of East Timor's largest party, Kalbuadi elected secretary-general |url=https://www.dn.pt/lusa/xanana-continua-presidente-do-maior-partido-de-timor-leste-kalbuadi-eleito-secretario-geral-6257840.html |accessdate=2023-08-09 |work=Diário de Notícias |agency=Lusa |date=2017-05-01 |language=pt}}

In that year's parliamentary election, Lay returned to the National Parliament at #5 on the CNRT list, but he resigned on 6 September 2017, the second day of the session.{{cite web |author1= |title=Who is in Timor-Leste's new Parliament? / Se tuir iha Parlamentu Nasionál foun? |url=http://laohamutuk.blogspot.com/2017/07/who-will-be-in-timor-lestes-next.html |website=La'o Hamutuk: Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis |accessdate=2023-08-09 |date=2017-07-23}}{{cite news |last1=Chatarina |first1=Julia |title=Deputadu Nain Haat Hosi Bankada CNRT Substitui Kargu |trans-title=Four Members of Parliament from the CNRT List are Substituted in Office. |url=https://tatoli.tl/2017/09/06/deputadu-nain-haat-hosi-bankada-cnrt-substitui-kargu/ |access-date=2023-08-09 |agency=Tatoli |date=2017-09-06 |language=tet}} With the CNRT going into opposition after the election, Lay also lost his ministerial post upon formation of the VI Constitutional Government on 15 September 2017. One of his replacements, Manuel Vong, was sworn in as Minister of Tourism; the other, Fernando Hanjam, became Minister of Education and Culture.{{cite web |title=VII Governo constitucional de Timor-Leste toma hoje posse incompleto |trans-title=VII Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste takes incomplete possession today |url=https://24.sapo.pt/noticias/internacional/artigo/vii-governo-constitucional-de-timor-leste-toma-hoje-posse-incompleto_22947072.html |website=Sapo.pt |access-date=2023-08-09 |date=2017-09-15}}{{cite web |title=VII Constitutional Government |url=http://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=19918&lang=en |website=Government of Timor-Leste |access-date=2023-08-09}}

In 2018, the National Parliament was dissolved early. In the elections that followed, Lay was again elected to the parliament, this time in 4th place on the list of the Alliance for Change and Progress (AMP), of which the CNRT was part.{{cite press release |title=Aviso: Lista Definitiva de Candidaturas Eleição Parlamentar 12 de Maio de 2018 |trans-title=Notice: Final List of Candidates Parliamentary Election 12 May 2018 |url=http://www.laohamutuk.org/Justice/2018/ElPar/ListaCandidatos.pdf |language=pt |publisher=Democratic Republic of East Timor |access-date=2023-08-09}} During the formation of the VIII Constitutional Government, Lay was nominated for appointment as Minister for Trade, Industry, Environment and Tourism. However, President Francisco Guterres rejected that nomination and 10 others, in Lay's case because he had allegedly been involved in a corruption scandal.{{cite news |last1=Sainsbury |first1=Michael |title=Turmoil for new Timor-Leste PM as 11 ministerial nominations nixed |url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/turmoil-for-new-timor-leste-pm-as-11-ministerial-nominations-nixed/82638 |access-date=2023-08-09 |work=UCA News |date=2018-06-22 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Belo |first1=Jose |title=New Timor-Leste govt beset with problems as Gusmao walks away |url=https://international.la-croix.com/news/politics/new-timor-leste-govt-beset-with-problems-as-gusmao-walks-away/8158 |access-date=2023-08-09 |work=La Croix international |date=2018-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811193432/https://international.la-croix.com/news/politics/new-timor-leste-govt-beset-with-problems-as-gusmao-walks-away/8158 |archive-date=2020-08-11 |url-status=live |language=en}}

The president's rejection of the ministerial nominations created a deadlock between Timor-Leste's two main political parties, the CNRT and Fretilin.{{cite news |last1=Ximenes |first1=Cristina |title=Timor-Leste Government: Minister Gaps Remain Unresolved |url=https://www.independente.tl/en/national/timor-leste-government-minister-gaps-remain-unresolved |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=Jornal Independente, Timor-Leste |date=6 July 2018 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Timor-Leste presidential election: José Ramos-Horta wins in landslide |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/21/timor-leste-presidential-election-jose-ramos-horta-wins-in-landslide |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=The Guardian |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=20 April 2022 |language=en |archive-date=21 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421074707/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/21/timor-leste-presidential-election-jose-ramos-horta-wins-in-landslide |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Ramos-Horta takes commanding lead in East Timor presidential vote |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/20/east-timor-ramos-horta-takes-strong-lead-in-presidential-vote |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=Al Jazeera |date=20 April 2022 |language=en |archive-date=21 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421074709/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/20/east-timor-ramos-horta-takes-strong-lead-in-presidential-vote |url-status=live }} In August 2018, the CNRT called for Guterres to be impeached if he did not approve the nominations "within 10 days", but Guterres, who was also president of Fretilin, was unmoved.{{cite news |last1=Xavier |first1=Jacinto |title=CNRT Calls for Impeachment of Timor-Leste's President Over Ministerial Cabinet Stall |url=https://www.independente.tl/en/politics/cnrt-calls-for-impeachment-of-timor-leste-s-president-over-ministerial-cabinet-stall |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=Jornal Independente, Timor-Leste |date=10 August 2018 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Xavier |first1=Jacinto |title=CNRT to maintain ministerial nominees but says cabinet solution up to PM |url=https://www.independente.tl/en/politics/cnrt-to-maintain-ministerial-nominees-but-says-cabinet-solution-up-to-pm |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=Jornal Independente, Timor-Leste |date=1 March 2019 |language=en}}

At the start of the following year, 2019, Lay and another rejected ministerial nominee, Sérgio Lobo, were overseas when they received notifications to attend court hearings, and therefore did not attend the hearings.{{cite news |last1=Xavier |first1=Jacinto |title=CNRT Denies Lay Escaping from High Court Summons |url=https://independente.tl/en/crime/cnrt-denies-lay-escaping-from-high-court-summons |access-date=5 January 2025 |work=Jornal Independente, Timor-Leste |date=24 January 2019 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Xavier |first1=Jacinto |title=Fretilin Calls For Extradition Policies to End High Profile Citizens Escaping Court Hearings |url=https://independente.tl/en/national/fretilin-calls-for-extradition-policies-to-end-high-profile-citizens-escaping-court-hearings |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=Jornal Independente, Timor-Leste |date=25 January 2019 |language=en}} Speaking in Parliament, {{ill|Duarte Nunes|de}}, leader of the CNRT parliamentary group, explained why Lay had not attended the court hearing, and said that the party "guaranteed" that he would attend the next hearing. In reply, {{ill|Gilman Exposto dos Santos|de}}, a member of parliament representing the Timorese Democratic Union ({{langx|pt|União Democrática Timorense|link=no}} (UDT)), asserted that members of the government had a duty to be responsible in a court of law for their actions. Fretilin responded by expressing concern that Timor-Leste did not have any extradition treaties with any country. Meanwhile, the CNRT maintained its position that its ministerial nominees were innocent until proven guilty, and Guterres repeatedly called for new nominations.

In late February 2019, Lay returned to the parliament, as his nomination for the ministry had been rejected. Speaking in parliament after his return, Lay confirmed that he had received three summonses from the High Court, but had not attended the court hearings, as he had been receiving medical treatment in Singapore.{{cite news |last1=Ximenes |first1=Cristina |title=Lere Urges Resolution of Kalbuadi Lay Case |url=https://www.independente.tl/en/national/lere-urges-resolution-of-kalbuadi-lay-case |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=Jornal Independente, Timor-Leste |date=5 March 2019 |language=en}} He also denied being present in parliament to gain legal immunity, and insisted that he would cooperate with the court.{{cite news |last1=Xavier |first1=Jacinto |title=Kalbuadi Lay Under Fire As He's Caught Exiting Timor-Leste |url=https://www.independente.tl/ji/kalbuadi-lay-under-fire-as-he-s-caught-exiting-timor-leste |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=Jornal Independente, Timor-Leste |date=7 March 2019 |language=en}} The legal proceedings related to allegations of corruption while he had been serving as Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and were still only at an investigation stage. During a meeting with Guterres on the Friday of that week, the {{ill|President of the National Parliament (Timor-Leste)|de|Parlamentspräsident (Osttimor)|lt=President of the National Parliament}}, {{ill|Arão Noé da Costa Amaral|de|lt=Arão Noé}}, said that the parliament would "only" discuss whether to revoke Lay's legal immunity if the High Court sent out another summons for Lay to appear.

The Commander of the Timor Leste Defence Force, Lere Anan Timur, then intervened. In a statement, made from the office of the president, for which the East Timor Law & Justice Bulletin later heavily criticised him as illegitimately interfering in civil political processes,{{cite web |author1= |title=Military interferes with due process of law |url=https://www.easttimorlawandjusticebulletin.com/2019/03/military-interferes-with-due-process-of.html |website=East Timor Law & Justice Bulletin |access-date=3 January 2025 |language=en |date=6 March 2019}} he said that the parliament should have waited until the High Court had resolved the corruption proceedings against Lay before allowing him to resume his membership. The following day, Lay was seen leaving Timor-Leste on a VIP aircraft; that event prompted Jornal Independente to observe that "... commentators have suggested that Lay's behaviour sets a dangerous precedent for accepted behaviour of national leaders."

File:Francisco Kalbuadi Lay 2020-01-23.jpg

On 18 March 2019, the Public Prosecutor sent a notification letter to the parliament calling for a revocation of Lay's legal immunity. The letter was signed as received by {{ill|Carmelita Caetano Moniz|de|lt=Carmelita Moniz}}, chair of the parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs and Justice (Committee A), and sent to Arão Noé. However, as noted by Fretilin member {{ill|Antoninho Bianco|de}} in an address to parliament more than a month later, no further action was taken on the letter.{{cite news |last1=Amado |first1=Tomé |title=Bianco Questions Parliament's Handling of Lay's Political Immunity |url=https://independente.tl/en/national/bianco-questions-parliament-s-handling-of-lay-s-political-immunity |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=Jornal Independente, Timor-Leste |date=6 May 2019 |language=en}} In May 2021, Lay moved to Australia to undergo medical treatment that caused him to miss another court hearing. He returned to Timor-Leste in February 2022 and received another court summons, with which, he said through a spokesman, he would comply.{{cite news |last1=Gusmao |first1=Martinha |title=Timor-Leste's Opposition Leader Summoned to Court |url=https://independente.tl/en/national/timor-leste-s-opposition-leader-summoned-to-court |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=Jornal Independente, Timor-Leste |date=3 March 2022 |language=en}}

Meanwhile, in January 2022, former President José Ramos-Horta came out of retirement to stand as a candidate in that year's presidential election, as he considered that Guterres had violated the constitution. He stated that in the event of winning the presidential election, he would potentially dissolve parliament and call for new elections. The CNRT had decided to support him on the basis that, amongst other things, he "... , if elected, must restore constitutional order and exercise constitutional powers and dissolve parliament and call early elections."{{cite news |author1= |title=CNRT quer que Ramos-Horta dissolva parlamento timorense se for eleito PR |trans-title=CNRT wants Ramos-Horta to dissolve Timorese parliament if elected president |url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/mundo/cnrt-quer-que-ramos-horta-dissolva-parlamento-timorense-se-for-eleito-pr_n1378900 |access-date=3 January 2025 |work=RTP Notícias |agency=Lusa |date=23 January 2022 |language=pt}}{{cite web |last1=Leach |first1=Michael |title=Timor-Leste: comebacks and contests ahead of presidential elections |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/timor-leste-comebacks-and-contests-ahead-presidential-elections |website=The Interpreter |publisher=Lowy Institute |access-date=3 January 2025 |language=en |date=24 January 2022 |archive-date=23 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323032438/https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/timor-leste-comebacks-and-contests-ahead-presidential-elections |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Oki |first1=Raimundos |title=Kalbuadi: CNRT will not force PR Horta to dissolve parliament |url=https://www.oekusipost.com/en/politics/1424-kalbuadi-cnrt-will-not-force-pr-horta-to-dissolve-parliament |access-date=3 January 2025 |work=The Oekusi Post |date=28 June 2022 |language=en-gb}} In the runoff between the two leading candidates, Ramos-Horta defeated Guterres with 62.1% of the total votes cast. However, the CNRT subsequently changed its strategy on whether it required Ramos-Horta to dissolve parliament and call early elections; Lay, in his capacity as CNRT secretary general, announced the change in strategy to reporters at a party meeting held in June 2022.

In the 2023 parliamentary election, Lay was the 2nd placed candidate on the CNRT list, and was elected once again to the National Parliament.{{cite web |author1= |title=Who will be in the RDTL National Parliament from 2023-2028? |url=http://www.laohamutuk.org/Justice/2023/ParlElec/results/230704PNmembers.pdf |website=La'o Hamutuk: Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis |access-date=2023-08-09 |date=2023-07-04}} The CNRT won the election, and its victory was attributed by The Oekusi Post to hard work by Lay, the CNRT's party president Xanana Gusmão, and others, in effectively conveying the party's message or political slogan of "Human Fraternity" ({{langx|pt|Fraternidade Humana|link=no}}). Lay was involved in the post-election negotiations between the CNRT and the Democratic Party (PD) over the formation of a IX Constitutional Government as a coalition between the two parties.{{cite news |last1=Martins |first1=Filomeno |title=PD and CNRT begin the initial meeting to form a coalition government |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2023/05/31/pd-and-cnrt-begin-the-initial-meeting-to-form-a-coalition-government/11/ |access-date=31 December 2024 |agency=Tatoli |date=31 May 2023}} On 1 July 2023, he was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Environment in the IX Constitutional Government,{{cite news |last1=Sousa |first1=Nelson de |title=PR Horta sei akompaña serbisu IX Governu |trans-title=President Horta will accompany the work of the IX Government |url=https://tatoli.tl/2023/07/01/pr-horta-sei-akompana-serbisu-ix-governu/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |agency=Tatoli |date=2023-07-01 |language=tet}}{{cite news |last1=Martins |first1=Filomeno |title=The list of structure of IX Constitutional Government announced in Official Gazette |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2023/06/30/the-list-of-structure-of-ix-constitutional-government-announced-in-official-gazette/09/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |agency=Tatoli |date=2023-06-30}}{{cite news |last1=Martins |first1=Filomeno |title=Xanana Gusmão sworn in as Timor-Leste's new Prime Minister |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2023/07/01/xanana-gusmao-sworn-in-as-timor-lestes-new-prime-minister/19/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |agency=Tatoli |date=2023-07-01}} and therefore gave up his parliamentary seat.

Also in July 2023, Lay told a news outlet based in Belu, an Indonesian regency that shares a border with East Timor, that the new government would continue striving to develop infrastructure in all regionsm with a view to supporting sustainable economic growth. "Establishing a new country is not easy, but we are trying to continue building," he said.{{cite news |last1=Payong |first1=Evan Dile |title=Republik Democratik Timor Leste Gencar Bangunan Infrastruktur Dorong Ekonomi Masyarakat Timor Leste |trans-title=Democratic Republic of Timor Leste Intensifies Infrastructure Building to Boost Timor Leste Community Economy |url=https://belu.inews.id/read/316759/republik-democratik-timor-leste-gencar-bangunan-infrastruktur-dorong-ekonomi-masyarakat-timor-leste |access-date=1 January 2025 |work=iNews Belu |date=6 July 2023 |language=id}} During the remaining months of 2023, he made official visits to Cambodia{{cite news |author1=Nhean Chamrong |title=Timor-Leste keen on strengthening ties with Cambodia |url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501351391/timor-leste-keen-on-strengthening-ties-with-cambodia/ |access-date=1 January 2025 |work=Khmer Times |date=29 August 2023}}{{cite web |author1= |title=Vice Prime Minister Kalbuadi Lay Strengthens Cooperation Relations during Official Visit to Cambodia |url=https://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=33785&lang=en |website=Government of Timor-Leste |access-date=1 January 2025 |language=en |date=31 August 2023}} and Malaysia,{{cite press release |title=Working visit of the Vice Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste |url=https://www.kln.gov.my/web/guest/-/working-visit-of-the-vice-prime-minister-of-the-democratic-republic-of-timor-leste-his-excellency-francisco-kalbuadi-lay-to-malaysia-3-6-december-2023 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malaysia) |access-date=1 January 2025 |location=Putrajaya |date=3 December 2023}}{{cite news |author1= |title=Timor-Leste looks forward to its officals' [sic] training in Malaysia |url=https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/timor-leste-looks-forward-to-its-officals-training-in-malaysia-DL11835710 |access-date=1 January 2025 |work=The Sun (Malaysia) |date=5 December 2023 |language=en-MY}} and attended a working party meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, at which he, as the newly appointed Chief Negotiator for Timor-Leste's accession to the WTO, indicated a "strong personal commitment" to leading East Timor through the final steps of that process.{{cite speech |last=Lay |first=Francisco Kalbuadi |title=Opening Statement by the Chief Negotiator of The Government of The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as an Acceding Country to The World Trade Organization |event=WTO 6th Working Party Meeting |date=11 October 2023 |location=Geneva |publisher=World Trade Organization |url=https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/acc_11oct23_e.pdf |access-date=1 January 2025 |language=en}}{{cite news |author1= |title=Timor-Leste has reached the final steps to complete WTO accession negotiations |url=https://www.oekusipost.com/en/business/1695-timor-leste-has-reached-the-final-steps-to-complete-wto-accession-negotiations |access-date=2 January 2025 |work=The Oekusi Post |date=16 October 2023 |language=en-gb}}

Additionally, at ceremonies held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, and Dili, respectively, in November 2023, Lay signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Hassanal Bolkiah, for a program to send workers from Timor-Leste to Brunei,{{cite news |last1=Sousa |first1=Camilio de |title=TL - Brunei Darussalam sign MoU on Labor Cooperation |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2023/11/07/tl-brunei-darussalam-sign-mou-on-labor-cooperation/14/ |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=7 November 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Ximenes |first1=Cristina |title=Timor-Leste, Brunei Darussalam Sign MOU on Labor Program |url=https://independente.tl/en/national/timor-leste-brunei-darussalam-sign-mou-on-labor-program |access-date=2 January 2025 |work=Jornal Independente, Timor-Leste |date=10 November 2023 |language=en}} and an MoU with five Chinese companies for donations to be made to Timor-Leste to a total value he said was estimated at around {{US$|300|link=yes}}{{nbsp}}million.{{cite news |last1=de Sa |first1=Jose |title=Five Chinese Companies sign donation agreement with Gov-TL |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2023/11/25/five-chinese-companies-sign-donation-agreement-with-govt/14/ |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=25 November 2023}}

In February 2024, at the WTO's 13th ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi, Lay signed the Protocol of the Accession of Timor-Leste to the WTO, and thereby indicated that Timor-Leste accepted the "accessions package" subject to ratification in its national parliament.{{cite news |last1=Araújo |first1=Joanico de |title=Timor-Leste officially becomes full member of the WTO |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2024/02/26/timor-leste-officially-becomes-full-member-of-the-wto/19/ |access-date=2 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=26 February 2024}}{{cite news |title=Timor-Leste's participation in the WTO accession protocol signing ceremony |url=https://www.oekusipost.com/en/business/1718-timor-leste-s-participation-in-the-wto-accession-protocol-signing-ceremony |access-date=2 January 2025 |work=The Oekusi Post |date=2 March 2024 |language=en-gb}} In April 2024, Lay launched the Timor-Leste Trade Information Portal, aimed at making import and export easier and less costly.{{cite news |last1=Sousa |first1=Camilio de |title=Timor-Leste Launches Information Portal to Boost Trade, Expand Market Access |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2024/04/11/timor-leste-launches-information-portal-to-boost-trade-expand-market-access/11/ |access-date=2 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=11 April 2024}} At the 6th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao in Macau later that month, he signed the Forum's Action Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation (2024–2027);{{cite news |last1=Sousa |first1=Camilio de |title=Minister Lay to sign Action Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2024/04/18/minister-lay-to-sign-action-plan-for-economic-and-trade-cooperation/18/ |access-date=2 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=18 April 2024}} in an address to the conference, he also highlighted the forum's "important role" in facilitating cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in relation to infrastructure projects.{{cite news |author1= |title=Li Hongzhong makes 4 suggestions, announces 6 new measures for Forum Macao |url=https://www.macaupostdaily.com/news/21292 |access-date=2 January 2025 |work=Macau Post Daily |date=23 April 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Sá |first1=Gonçalo César de |title=Strengthening Sino-Lusophone ties at Forum Macao |url=https://macaomagazine.net/macau-sino-lusophone-forum-macao/ |access-date=2 January 2025 |work=Macao Magazine |publisher=Macao Government Information Bureau |date=21 June 2024}} The following month, May 2024, at the Ministry of Finance's annual Development Partners Meeting, Lay presided over a technical discussion on Timor-Lest's economic development sector, during which he outlined the government's priorities in key productive sectors of the economy, and identified the major challenges the government considered those sectors were facing.{{cite web |author1= |title=2024 TL and Development Partners Meeting |url=https://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/24TLDPM/24TLDPMindex.htm |website=La'o Hamutuk: Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis |access-date=2 January 2025 |date=4 June 2024}}{{cite speech |last=Lay |first=Francisco Kalbuadi |title=Introductory Remarks/Technical Discussion on the Economic Development Sector Lead Ministry – Vice-Prime Minister and Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism & Environment |event=2024 TL and Development Partners Meeting |date=May 2024 |location=Dili |publisher=La'o Hamutuk: Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis |url=https://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/24TLDPM/240515VPMIntroRemarks-EconDevtSector.pdf |access-date=2 January 2025 |language=en}}

In July 2024, in Geneva, Lay completed the process of Timor-Leste's accession to the WTO, by submitting to the WTO its Protocol of Accession and Instrument of Acceptance of the Fisheries Subsidy Agreement.{{cite news |last1=Sousa |first1=Camilio de |title=Gov-TL submits Protocol of Accession and Instrument of Acceptance of Fisheries Subsidies Agreement to WTO |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2024/07/22/gov-tl-submits-protocol-of-accession-and-instrument-of-acceptance-of-fisheries-subsidies-agreement-to-wto/15/ |access-date=1 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=22 July 2024}}{{cite news |author1= |title=TL has submitted an instrument for acceptance of fisheries subsidy to the WTO |url=https://www.oekusipost.com/en/business/1743-tl-has-submitted-an-instrument-for-acceptance-of-fisheries-subsidy-to-the-wto |access-date=2 January 2025 |work=The Oekusi Post |date=23 July 2024 |language=en-gb}} At the end of that month, in Beijing, he signed an MoU with the People's Republic of China focused on strengthening investment cooperation in the digital economy and promoting green development, along with an additional agreement with the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) to advance infrastructure projects in Timor-Leste.{{cite news |last1=Sousa |first1=Camilio de |title=Timor-Leste strengthens economic ties with China through new agreements |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2024/07/31/timor-leste-strengthens-economic-ties-with-china-through-new-agreements/11/ |access-date=2 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=31 July 2024}} In October 2024, during an official visit by Xanana Gusmão and several of his ministers to Lisbon, Lay signed a cooperation agreement to develop the Revive programme for the support of high value historic public properties in Timor-Leste.{{cite news |last1=Sousa |first1=Camilio de |title=Portugal and TL to sign Cooperation Protocol on Development and Implementation of REVIVE Program |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2024/10/02/portugal-and-tl-to-sign-cooperation-protocol-on-development-and-implementation-of-revive-program/19/ |access-date=2 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=2 October 2024}}{{cite web |author1= |title=Portugal and East Timor sign cooperation programme for 75 million euros |url=https://www.portugal.gov.pt/en/gc24/communication/news-item?i=portugal-and-east-timor-sign-cooperation-programme-for-75-million-euros |website=XXIV Constitutional Government of Portugal |access-date=2 January 2025 |date=14 October 2024}}

At the 28th ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting in Singapore in October 2024, Lay represented Timor-Leste, including by giving a speech in which he stressed the importance of regional cooperation in facing global changes in the labour market, and signaled Timor-Leste's commitment to collaborating with ASEAN countries to formulate labour policies promoting inclusive development and well-being of citizens. He also met with Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, to discuss Timor-Leste's integration process into ASEAN.{{cite news |last1=de Sa |first1=Jose |title=Timor-Leste aligns with ASEAN to address challenges of labour future |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2024/11/04/timor-leste-aligns-with-asean-to-address-challenges-of-labour-future/19/ |access-date=2 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=4 November 2024}} The following month, he gave the welcoming speech at the inaugural Timor-Leste Tourism Investment Forum held in Dili.{{cite news |last1=Sousa |first1=Camilio de |title=Tourism Investment Forum introduces Timor-Leste's opportunities to invite more investors |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2024/11/21/the-tourism-investment-forum-introduces-timor-lestes-opportunities-to-invite-more-investors/18/ |access-date=2 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=21 November 2024}} In December 2024, he represented Timor-Leste at the International Forum on Soil and Water 2024 in Bangkok. In his speech at the opening session, he drew attention to Timor-Leste's commitment to the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, improvement of soil productivity and implementation of community-based water management.{{cite news |last1=de Sa |first1=Jose |title=Timor-Leste participates in International Forum on Soil and Water to Combat Global Environmental Challenges |url=https://en.tatoli.tl/2024/12/12/timor-leste-participates-in-international-forum-on-soil-and-water-to-combat-global-environmental-challenges/20/ |access-date=2 January 2025 |agency=Tatoli |date=12 December 2024}}

Lay is a member of East Timor's small ethnic Chinese community. His brother, {{ill|Pedro Lay|de}}, was Minister of Infrastructure from 2007 to 2012, and Minister of Transport and Communications between 2012 and 2015.{{cite book |last1=Huber |first1=Juliette|editor1-last=Hoogervorst |editor1-first=Tom |editor2-last=Chia |editor2-first=Caroline |title=Sinophone Southeast Asia: Sinitic voices across the Southern Seas |date=2021 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden, Boston |isbn=9789004473263 |chapter=Chapter 2: At the Periphery of Nanyang: The Hakka Community of Timor-Leste |chapter-url=https://brill.com/display/book/9789004473263/BP000015.xml?language=en |pages=52–90 |doi=10.1163/9789004473263_004 |doi-access=free}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lay, Francisco Kalbuadi}}

Category:Association football executives

Category:Government ministers of Timor-Leste

Category:Living people

Category:National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction politicians

Category:Sports executives and administrators

Category:1954 births

Category:21st-century East Timorese politicians