Ruling party agrees to electoral reforms

Ethiopia’s ruling party agreed on Tuesday to key reforms of the country’s electoral law after its first ever meeting with opposition parties ahead of the forthcoming elections. Information minister Bereket Simon said the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) had accepted "in principal" to changes in the law. The minister also called for reform of the National Election Board – the body whose task it is to run the May 2005 federal and regional elections. "We don’t think the election board is perfect in the absolute terms of the word," he told reporters. "We believe there is a lot they can do for themselves in terms of reforming." He said the electoral law changes – which must be ratified by the country’s lawmaking arm – had been presented and provisionally accepted by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Some 38 million people are expected to vote at 35,000 polling stations in 547 constituencies. The electoral law reform agreement was made by the EPRDF and the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) a 14 strong-coalition of opposition groups. In a symbolic meeting, the UEDF made the joint announcement alongside the minister. Relations between both sides have traditionally been hostile. Merera Gudina, chairman of the UEDF, said the changes would help create a "level playing field" enabling free and fair elections in the country. "We are confident we can win once the playing field is level," he said. Among changes that are expected to be passed into law are improving the conduct of party officials at election time. Opposition parties had claimed their members faced intimidation. The EPRDF have also guaranteed ensuring ballot secrecy and plan to increase the number of representatives from seven to 11 on the election board. The UEDF is also calling for greater access to state media and "freedom of mobility" to campaign. They claim officials have in the past prevented them from holding meetings. The two political parties have also agreed to set up joint committees to ensure democratic and fair elections, the joint statement said. However, the two political parties could not agree on the make-up of the election board nor a change in the voting system from first-past-the-post to proportional representation. Opposition parties complain that in western Ethiopia, one MP represents 17,496 voters, while in eastern Ethiopia, one MP represents 99,761 registered voters. Ethiopia’s opposition parties had been threatening to boycott without changes to the electoral law. Beyene Petros told the press conference that the coalition "reiterated its serious desire to participate" in both federal and regional elections. They had presented 29 amendments – the majority of which the EPRDF said they would accept. Bereket said the changes would help ensure "free and fair" elections. The EPRDF, which ousted Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991 after a 17-year guerrilla war, won 479 seats in the last national elections in 2000.