Politics
Contents
Political structure
- Official name: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
- Form of state: Federal republic
Legal system
- The federal constitution was promulgated by the transitional authorities in December 1994; in May 1995 representatives were elected to the institutions of the new republic, which came formally into being in August 1995
- The president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People’s Representatives; for other federal judges, the prime minister submits candidates selected by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council to the People’s Representatives for appointment.
- The Judiciary is more or less independent of the executive and the legislature
National legislature
- The Federal Assembly consists of
- the House of Peoples’ Representatives (Yehizbtewekayoch Mekir Bet – lower house; 547 members) and
- The House of Federation (Yefedereshn Mekir Bet – upper house; 108 members);
- The nine regional state councils have limited powers, including that of appointing members of the House of Federation
National elections
- May 2015 (federal and regional);
- Next elections due in 2020
Head of state
- Current President: Sahle-Work Zewde (First female President of Ethiopia)
The president of Ethiopia is elected by the House of Peoples’ Representatives for a six-year term - Prime Minister is the head of government chosen by the parliament
designated by the party in power following legislative elections
National government
- The prime minister and his cabinet (Council of Ministers)
Main political parties
The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and its allies secured another overwhelming victory in the May 2015 general election, having won all 546 (out of 547) seats declared so far (declaration of the final seat has been postponed, to an as yet unspecified date); the EPRDF evolved from the coalition of armed groups that seized power in May 1991:
- The Tigray People’s Liberation Front;
- The Amhara National Democratic Movement;
- The Southern Ethiopia People’s Democratic Movement; and
- The Oromo People’s Democratic Organisation.
Opposition parties include:
- Unity for Democracy and Justice;
- The United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin
- The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces; and
- The Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement
Key Ministers
- Prime minister: Abiy Ahmed
- Deputy prime ministers: Demeke Mekonnen
- Agriculture: Omer Husene
- Culture & tourism: Hiruf Kassaw
- Defence: Aisha Mohammed
- Education: Tilaye Gete
- Finance: Ahmed Shide
- Foreign affairs: Workneh Gebeyehu
- Health: Amir Aman
- Innovation & technology: Getahun Mekuria
- Labour & social affairs: Ergoge Tesfay
- Mines &petroleum: Samuel Hurka
- Peace: Mufuriat Kami
- Planning & development commission: Fitsum Assefa
- Revenue: Adanech Abeebe
- Science & higher education: Hirat Woldermariam
- Trade & industry: Fetlework Gebre-Eqzhaber
- Transport: Dagmawit Moges
- Urban development & construction: Jantrar Abay
- Water, irrigation & energy: Sileshi Bekele
- Women, children & youth: Yalem-Tsegay Asfaw
Central bank governor
- Yinager Dessie
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