They were originally scheduled for August 2020. Finally after two postponements, Ethiopia is organizing parliamentary elections on Monday. First ballot since 2018 and the coming to power of the Prime ...

First legislative ballot since Abiy Ahmed came to power, Ethiopia divided

Audio 04:22

Addis Ababa, June 20, preparation of a polling station for the legislative elections of June 21 in Ethiopia.

AP - Ben Curtis

Text by: Sébastien Nemeth Follow

9 mins

They were originally scheduled for August 2020. Finally after two postponements, Ethiopia is organizing parliamentary elections on Monday.

First poll since 2018 and the coming to power of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

More than 37 million voters are called to the polls to choose their regional and federal parliamentarians.

But the country's situation is worrying.

Publicity

with our regional correspondent,

Sébastien Nemeth

The province of Tigray, in the north of the country, has been experiencing a bloody war since November between the central state and the former regional power. Other regions are also shaken by violence, especially tribal violence. Some constituencies will not be able to vote for security or technical reasons. This vote is a test for Prime Minister

Abiy Ahmed as

he is supposed to represent Ethiopia's democratic renaissance. A renewal desired by Abiy Ahmed,

Nobel Peace Prize 2019,

who upon coming to power, had launched deep reforms, freed political prisoners, allowed the return of exiles, made peace with Eritrea, etc.

With this election, Abiy Ahmed wants to obtain the popular vote to establish his legitimacy.

But the situation is not that simple.

Deep fractures appeared.

Wassihun Gebreegziabher, professor at the University of Welkite, does not have a very engaging vision of the poll.

“

I expect the worst.
The political situation has become very complicated, security is fragile, many regions are suffering from conflict, and the ruling party has already lost its legitimacy in the eyes of the Ethiopians.
Many opponents are in prison.
All this shows that this vote will not be important for the community and that only the power will benefit from it.

A fifth of the constituencies will not be able to vote

Because Ethiopia has been overtaken by its demons and several regions have sunk into violence.

We will not vote in about 1 / 5th of the constituencies:

no election in Tigray

because of the war;

no election in part of the Benisangul-Gumuz region and western Oromia because of community violence;

no voting in the Somali and Harari regions due to a problem with printing ballots.

A sort of catch-up vote is scheduled for September 6, but not everyone will be affected.

►

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“

This may be the first real election,

however

continues Professor Melisew Dejene, of the University of Awassa, who nevertheless prefers to keep an optimistic view, especially if we compare to previous polls.

It is completely new to see opposition parties come up with a program.
Now even the public media organize live political debates.

Progress but progress tarnished by the repression of power against the opposition

There have been waves of arrests against political leaders, some of whom are accused of terrorism.

As a result, several major movements have decided to boycott, such as the OFC.

“

There is a shrinking political space,

” explains one of the OFC leaders, Merera Gudina.

Our offices have been closed.
Two years ago we had over 200. There are only three left.
Political leaders, several hundred of them across the Oromia region, are in prison.
We reach several thousand if we count the incarcerated activists.
We expected better.
Three years ago, we were much more optimistic.
But the government has practically declared war on us.
A year ago we managed to mobilize millions of people.
The power panicked and it simply kicked us out of the political game.

With the absence of political figures and the boycott of certain parties, we therefore have limited competition.

The Prime Minister's prosperity party is the big favorite.

Abiy Ahmed should be renewed.

Its main opponents will be the EZeMa and Balderas party.

Balderas whose leader, Eskinder Nega is in prison.

Nevertheless the movement will participate.

Even if Geletaw Zeleke, one of his candidates, has strong reservations.

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“

European Union observers felt that international standards had not been met,

” explains Geletaw Zeleke.

We make the same conclusions.
So we have fears.
We believe Ethiopia is not ready to hold elections at the moment.
Are there countries which organize elections when they are divided on the Constitution itself?

A long-awaited vote, but which will therefore have its limits because even if the ballot is peaceful, it will not resolve the country's deep political and social divisions.

In this context, part of the population risks having doubts about the legitimacy of the vote.

First legislative ballot since Abiy Ahmed came to power, Ethiopia divided

First legislative ballot since Abiy Ahmed came to power, Ethiopia divided

A fifth of the constituencies will not be able to vote

Progress but progress tarnished by the repression of power against the opposition

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