The community leadership in Timor-Leste have undergone elections in 2004/2005 and 2009 for the choice of the Suco Leaders and the Suco Councils, in accordance with the provisions of Law 2/2004, of 18 February 2004 and Law 3/2009, of 8 July 2009 respectively.

The Suco is a community organization formed on the basis of historic, cultural and traditional circumstances, having an area established within the national territory and a defined population.

The Suco Leader is the community leader elected to direct the activities carried out by the community within a given suco in close cooperation with the Suco Council. The Suco Council comprises the Suco Leader, Aldiea leaders, two women, two youth (one of each gender), one elder and one lian nain (lian nian is not elected, but rather appointed by the Suco Council in its first meeting). The Suco Council are not included in the Public Administration and their decisions are not binding upon the State.

There were only 7 women for Chefe de Sucos in 2004/2005 Suco elections and 10 women Chefe de Sucos in 2009 Community Elections.