Ethiopians elect lawmakers to choose PM

Ethiopians go to the polls on Monday to elect lawmakers who will choose the country’s prime minister.

The ruling party currently holds more than 500 seats in the 547-member House of Representatives and is predicted to secure a majority, guaranteeing the prime minister another five-year term.

Some 50 million people are registered to vote in a nation of 130 million, according to the National Election Board of Ethiopia.

However, the vote will not take place in 46 constituencies in the conflict-affected regions of Amhara and Tigray, with authorities citing instability and political tensions.

Tigray has been excluded from the national election for the second consecutive time, marking a decade without federal representation from the northern region.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has been outlawed by the federal government, though it maintains control of the regional administration and has threatened to cancel the 2022 peace agreement that ended a devastating civil war.

A total of 47 political parties and more than 10,900 candidates are contesting the polls, including for regional council seats.

The main opposition party, Ezema, is fielding candidates in less than 60% of constituencies and currently holds only four MPs.

Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is leading a 73-member African Union election observation mission deployed at the invitation of the government.

“Ours is to call for a peaceful situation as Ethiopians are known for,” Kenyatta said.

Results are expected on June 11.

SOURCE: AFP