Ethiopian general election, 2000
Encyclopedia
Ethiopia
held general elections
on 14 May and 31 August 2000, for seats in both its national and in several Regional government
councils. although several opposition parties boycotted the election, 17 parties including the All-Amhara People's Organization
, the Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic Coalition
(SEPDC), and the Oromo National Congress did participate.
According to observers organized by Ethiopian Human Rights Council, local U.N. staff, diplomatic missions, political parties, and domestic non-governmental organization
s, both the general and the regional elections that year were generally free and fair in most areas; however, serious election irregularities occurred in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR), particularly in the Hadiya Zone
. As a result, the National Election Board of Ethiopia
(NEBE) investigated the complaints and determined that many of them had merit. These included incidents of election officials instructing voters for whom to vote, candidates campaigning at polling stations, and candidates being pressured into quitting. There also were credible reports of ballot stuffing
, vote count fraud, voter intimidation or bribery, dismissals from work, withholding of salaries, detentions, abductions, and killings.
In its annual report on Human Rights, the US State Department stated that there were numerous credible reports that persons who supported or voted for opposition candidates were harassed. For example, there were credible reports that ruling party personnel withheld fertilizer and food aid in the SNNPR as retaliation for voters electing opposition candidates. According to the SEPDC, some of their supporters were suspended or dismissed from their jobs in retaliation, and some teachers in the SNNPR who served as SEPDC election observers found their salaries were withheld and were denied entry to summer update courses. many civil servants who supported the opposition were fired from their positions.
(EPRDF) captured 481 of the 547 seats in the national election, broken down between its members as follows: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization
winning 183, the Amhara National Democratic Movement
143, the Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement
112, and the Tigray People's Liberation Front 40. Independents won 13 seats and other parties won 53. Six of the seven constituencies in the Hadiya Zone
where elections were run, were won by the Hadiya National Democratic Organization led by Beyene Petros
.
The second round was held August 31 for the Somali Region
alone. Candidates from the Alliance of Somali Democratic Forces, the Western Somali Democratic Party
, and the Somali People's Democratic Party
(SPDP), as well as 156 private candidates contested the 23 seats reserved for the region in the House of People's Representatives and the 168 seats in the State Council. About 75% of the 1.15 million registered voters in the Region cast ballots. Announced results gave 19 of the seats to the SPDP, and the remaining four to independent candidates.
In the Regional elections, either the EPRDF or one of its member parties won the election except in Afar
(where the Afar National Democratic Party
won 84 of the 87 local seats), Benishangul-Gumuz (where the Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Front
won 71 of the 80 seats), Gambela
(where the Gambela People's Democratic Front won 40 of the 53 seats), and Somali (where the Somali People's Democratic Party
won 150 of the 168 seats).
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
held general elections
Elections in Ethiopia
At the federal level, Ethiopia elects a legislature. The Federal Parliamentary Assembly has two chambers: the Council of People's Representatives with not more than 550 members as per the constitution but actually nearly 547 members, elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies; and...
on 14 May and 31 August 2000, for seats in both its national and in several Regional government
Regions of Ethiopia
||Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based administrative regions and two chartered cities...
councils. although several opposition parties boycotted the election, 17 parties including the All-Amhara People's Organization
All-Amhara People's Organization
The All-Amhara People's Organization is an ethnic based political party in Ethiopia, whose leader was the late Asrat Woldeyes.At the last legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's...
, the Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic Coalition
Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic Coalition
The Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition is a political party in Ethiopia. At the last legislative elections held on 15 May 2005, the Coalition was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's Representatives .It was founded in...
(SEPDC), and the Oromo National Congress did participate.
According to observers organized by Ethiopian Human Rights Council, local U.N. staff, diplomatic missions, political parties, and domestic non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s, both the general and the regional elections that year were generally free and fair in most areas; however, serious election irregularities occurred in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR), particularly in the Hadiya Zone
Hadiya Zone
Hadiya is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . This zone is named after the Hadiya of the Hadiya kingdom, whose homeland covers part of the administrative division...
. As a result, the National Election Board of Ethiopia
National Election Board of Ethiopia
The National Election Board of Ethiopia is an autonomous government agency which supervises the national elections of Ethiopia. The NEBE was established by Proclamation number 64/1992, and answers to the House of Peoples' Representatives....
(NEBE) investigated the complaints and determined that many of them had merit. These included incidents of election officials instructing voters for whom to vote, candidates campaigning at polling stations, and candidates being pressured into quitting. There also were credible reports of ballot stuffing
Ballot stuffing
Ballot stuffing is the illegal act of one person submitting multiple ballots during a vote in which only one ballot per person is permitted. The name originates from the earliest days of this practice in which people literally did stuff more than one ballot in a ballot box at the same time...
, vote count fraud, voter intimidation or bribery, dismissals from work, withholding of salaries, detentions, abductions, and killings.
In its annual report on Human Rights, the US State Department stated that there were numerous credible reports that persons who supported or voted for opposition candidates were harassed. For example, there were credible reports that ruling party personnel withheld fertilizer and food aid in the SNNPR as retaliation for voters electing opposition candidates. According to the SEPDC, some of their supporters were suspended or dismissed from their jobs in retaliation, and some teachers in the SNNPR who served as SEPDC election observers found their salaries were withheld and were denied entry to summer update courses. many civil servants who supported the opposition were fired from their positions.
Results
In round one, held on 14 May, there were 20,252,000 registered voters, of whom 90% voted. Results were announced in mid-June by the NEBE: the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic FrontEthiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front is the ruling political coalition in Ethiopia. It is an alliance of four other groups: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's...
(EPRDF) captured 481 of the 547 seats in the national election, broken down between its members as follows: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization
Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization
The Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization is an ethnic-based political party in Ethiopia, and part of the alliance with the Amhara National Democratic Movement, the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front and the Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front that forms the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary...
winning 183, the Amhara National Democratic Movement
Amhara National Democratic Movement
The Amhara National Democratic Movement is a political party in Ethiopia.At the last legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party was part of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, that won 327 out of 527 seats...
143, the Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement
Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement
The Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement Adama University Students' Second Year WingIn Adama University we form the Wing in two tiers, one in second year and the other tier is in the third year. The second year group has about 300 members and over 15 different cells...
112, and the Tigray People's Liberation Front 40. Independents won 13 seats and other parties won 53. Six of the seven constituencies in the Hadiya Zone
Hadiya Zone
Hadiya is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . This zone is named after the Hadiya of the Hadiya kingdom, whose homeland covers part of the administrative division...
where elections were run, were won by the Hadiya National Democratic Organization led by Beyene Petros
Beyene Petros
Professor Beyene Petros Lodamo is a professor at Addis Ababa University and a member of the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives, representing an electoral district in Badawacho of Hadiya Zone....
.
The second round was held August 31 for the Somali Region
Somali Region
Somali Region ; is the eastern-most of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. It is often called Somalia, though it is not to be confused with the independent country of the same name. The capital of Somali State is Jijiga...
alone. Candidates from the Alliance of Somali Democratic Forces, the Western Somali Democratic Party
Western Somali Democratic Party
Western Somali Democratic Party is a political party in Ethiopia. It emerged out of the Western Somali Liberation Front in 1975...
, and the Somali People's Democratic Party
Somali People's Democratic Party
The Somali People's Democratic Party is a political party in Ethiopia, officially representing the Somali people. It is allied with, but not a member of, the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front ....
(SPDP), as well as 156 private candidates contested the 23 seats reserved for the region in the House of People's Representatives and the 168 seats in the State Council. About 75% of the 1.15 million registered voters in the Region cast ballots. Announced results gave 19 of the seats to the SPDP, and the remaining four to independent candidates.
In the Regional elections, either the EPRDF or one of its member parties won the election except in Afar
Afar Region
Afar is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, and is the homeland of the Afar people. Formerly known as Region 2, its current capital is Asayita; a new capital named Semera on the paved Awash - Asseb highway is under construction....
(where the Afar National Democratic Party
Afar National Democratic Party
The Afar National Democratic Party is a political party in Ethiopia.At the last legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party won 8 seats, all from the Afar Region...
won 84 of the 87 local seats), Benishangul-Gumuz (where the Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Front
Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Front
The Benishangul Gumuz People’s Democratic Unity Front is a political party in Ethiopia. In the most recent elections held 23 May 2010, the BGPDUF won 9 seats. In local elections held the same day, the BGPDUF won 98 of the 99 seats in the Benishangul-Gumuz parliament.The BGPDUF emerged from a 1996...
won 71 of the 80 seats), Gambela
Gambela Region
Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. Previously known as "Region 12", its capital is Gambela. Lying between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, the western part of Gambela includes the Baro salient....
(where the Gambela People's Democratic Front won 40 of the 53 seats), and Somali (where the Somali People's Democratic Party
Somali People's Democratic Party
The Somali People's Democratic Party is a political party in Ethiopia, officially representing the Somali people. It is allied with, but not a member of, the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front ....
won 150 of the 168 seats).