September 21, 2017 - 16 national political parties of Ethiopia have begun discussion on ways to reform the electoral law., according to FBC
In the discussions, 12 political parties have expressed their demand for the implementation of proportional representation electoral system.
Shiferaw Shigute and Asmelash Woldeselassie, representatives of the ruling party EPRDF, for their part tabled the amended electoral law of Ethiopia, which follows the majority system.
The system, which Ethiopia follows, is common all over the worldwide and it was proved successful, Asmelash said at the event.
Ethiopia’s past five elections were conducted in this system and helped build democracy in the country, he added.
However, in order to expand the democratic system, it is important to put in place a mechanism which guarantees the representation of some community member in the parliament, he said.
The ruling party EPRDF further suggested the inclusion of both majority and proportional representation electoral system in the electoral law.
Dr. Chane Kebede, Chairperson of the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), representing the 12 political parties, filed a complaint on the neutrality of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).
The parties also suggested NEBE to be ran by a team of national political parties and the Prime Minister to nominate a commission tasked to handle election-related process.
Source: FBC