Lúcia Maria Brandão Freitas Lobato (born 7 November 1965) is an East Timor

East Timor

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...

ese politician, currently serving as Minister of Justice. She is a member of the National Parliament

National Parliament of East Timor

The National Parliament of East Timor is the unicameral national legislature in East Timor. It was created in 2001 as the Constituent Assembly while the country was still under the supervision of the United Nations, but renamed itself to the National Parliament with the attaining of national...

, representing the Social Democratic Party

Social Democratic Party (East Timor)

The Social Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in East Timor.In the parliamentary election held on 30 August 2001, the party won 8.2% of the popular vote and 6 out of 88 seats...

.

Lobato was born in Liquiçá

Liquiçá

Liquiçá is a coastal city in East Timor, 32 km to the west of Dili, the national capital. Liquiçá is the capital of Liquiçá district...

, and is a lawyer.

She was elected to the Constituent Assembly (which was subsequently transformed into the National Parliament upon independence in 2002) in the August 2001 parliamentary election

East Timorese parliamentary election, 2001

Constituent Assembly elections were held in East Timor on 30 August 2001, the second anniversary of the independence referendum. One member was elected from each of the country's thirteen districts, whilst a further 75 were elected by proportional representation. The result was a victory for the...

, taking her seat on September 15, 2001.

Lobato was a candidate in the April 2007 presidential election

East Timorese presidential election, 2007

The 2007 East Timorese presidential election involved two separate votes. The first, on 9 April 2007 eliminated six of the eight nominees. The remaining two candidates, current Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta and Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor President Francisco Guterres, faced...

, and the only female candidate. She received fifth place and 8.86% of the vote.

In the June 2007 parliamentary election

East Timorese parliamentary election, 2007

A parliamentary election was held in East Timor on 30 June 2007. Although a narrow plurality was achieved by the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor , a coalition involving the next three largest groups formed a government...

, Lobato was re-elected to Parliament as the third name on the joint candidate list of the PSD and the Timorese Social Democratic Association

Timorese Social Democratic Association

The Timorese Social Democratic Association is a social-democratic political party in East Timor....

 (ASDT). In the government of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão

Xanana Gusmão

Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão GCL is a former militant who was the first President of East Timor, serving from May 2002 to May 2007...

, sworn in on August 8, 2007, she was appointed Minister of Justice.