Ethiopian political parties to debate electoral code of conduct

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Addis Ababa, August 30, 2009 -- The ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and opposition political parties which have seats in the House of Peoples' Representatives are to discuss an electoral code of conduct on Monday. Opposition political parties have confirmed that they are willing to attend the debate.


The debate was organized by the EPRDF.
However, opposition parties are saying that although the EPRDF took the initiative, they had been advocating a debate on an electoral code of conduct for the past four years.

Muktar Kedir, head of the Office of the EPRDF, said that the discussion would center on rules of engagement to be followed by contestant parties during the election. The EPRDF strongly believed that the discussion would significantly contribute to make the upcoming national elections fair, democratic and peaceful, he said.

Professor. Beyene Petros, executive vice-chairman of the United Ethiopian Democratic Front (UEDF), said that his party would take part in the discussion.

“We have received the invitation of the EPRDF to discuss an electoral code of conduct though our party has been asking the EPRDF for more than four years to organize such a session. This discussion is too late with the next election fast approaching,” Prof. Beyene said.
Bulcha Demeksa, chairperson of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), on his part said that he accepted the invitation to discuss an electoral code of conduct that enables both the EPRDF and opposition parties to formulate a document on a joint code of conduct for the upcoming elections.

“I hope that we will discuss all challenges and problems in this country related to elections and, by doing so, come up with a joint code of conduct,” he said, adding that this kind of discussion, though belated, was very important to solve election-related problems.

Prof. Beyene indicated his party was prepared to raise issues on constitutional rights, the rule of law and how to conduct the next elections in a fair manner during the discussion. He said that his party’s intention was not only to discuss what is happening within the political space in Ethiopia also but also in the country as a whole where no trust exists between political parties. He emphasized that the elections should be observed and monitored by international organizations.

“We need to discuss an electoral code of conduct and we need the elections to be observed and monitored. This is the very basic issue for the next elections,” he added.

The EPRDF has acknowledged that the discussions held with opposition parties had demonstrated that there was a forum for political parties that are campaigning in a peaceful manner.

It said that it had been offering constructive suggestions for a relevant discussion on the financing of parties organized by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). Accordingly, it is undertaking various activities to hold similar discussions.
Source: Reporter