Table of content i. INTRODUCTION 2 ii. ORGANIZATION AND WORKING PRINCIPLES 5 iii. VALUES OF THE EPRDF 5 iv. MEMBERSHIP 5 v. MANAGEMENT BODIES AND STRUCTURE 6 vi. MAIN POINTS ABOUT EPRDF PROGRAM 16 vii. MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS OF THE FRONT 24 viii. EPRDF YOUTH AND WOMEN S LEAGUES 32 ix. THE EPRDF AND ELECTION 34 1
Secretariat of the Council of the EPRDF INTRODUCTION The Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) is a political organization founded in 1989 by the membership of the Tigray People s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the then Ethiopian Peoples Democratic Movement (EPDM), currently known as the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM). Later, other parties joined the front namely, the Oromo People s Democratic Organization (OPDO), and the Southern Ethiopian Peoples Democratic Movement (SEPDM), previously known as Southern Ethiopian Peoples Democratic Front (SEPDF). 2 At the outset, the objective of the front was to direct and coordinate the national liberation struggle of the people against the fascist dictatorial Dergue regime, and the fight against national oppression that was imposed over the people of Ethiopia. Accordingly, the EPRDF had waged a protracted life and death struggle which brought about the total downfall of the dictatorial military regime in May 1991. The event made an end to the age long national oppression and exploitation, which was regarded as the extension of the previous regimes. Besides, the EPRDF Has also played key role in laying foundations for building a nation of a communal vision with a new spirit of hope. Accordingly, a constitution in which basic human and democratic rights and the right to self-determination and equality of Ethiopia s nations, nationalities and peoples are ensured has been enforced. With a view to eradicate the long prevailed poverty and bring about rapid and sustainable development, the EPRDF formulated the Agricultural Development Led Industrialization (ADLI) strategy. The strategy was fruitful; especially after renewal program of the EPRDF in the past nine
years a double-digit economic growth has been registered. Through the noted strategy tremendous achievements have been registered in the Agriculture, industry and service sectors. The five years growth and transformation plan is underway successfully. The number of the individual members under the member parties of the EPRDF has increased gradually. It was around 700,000on 2005 and by2013 grow to 6.5 million. EPRDF is the vanguard of the Ethiopian farmers, lower and middle urban dwellers and developmental actors. The core leadership pursues the cause of revolutionary democracy and represents Ethiopian s advanced productive forces and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Ethiopian people. The EPRDF has continued its role as a vanguard actor in building reliable peace, development and strong stability. It has always been the aspiration of the EPRDF to build a new Ethiopia in coordination with other partners. As it has won the 4th National Election, the front has formulated the five year Growth and Transformation Plan so as to enable the country food self sufficient and lay a platform for industrial led economy. According to the Growth and Transformation Plan, Ethiopian economy is expected to grow at a rate of 11% - 15%. The implementation of the plan will be realized by extensive participation of the people and the commitment of the government. 3
1.1 MEMBER PARTIES OF THE EPRDF Tigray People s Liberation Front (TPLF)--established in 1975 Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM)-- established in 1982 Oromo People s Democratic Organization (OPDO)-- established in 1990 South Ethiopia Peoples Democratic Movement (SEPDM)-- established in 1992 1.2 EMBELM OF THE FRONT The background of the emblem is a circular space painted with red color. Placed on the background are a wheat filament on the right and a wheel on the left which are linked from the bottom with a ribbon on the mid of which a torch handled by two hands rests. At the top of the flare of the torch and on the tips of the wheel and the wheat filament is an amber star. 4 Interpretation of the emblem The red background indicates the grand sacrifice paid for the establishment of a democratic order. The wheat filament, half the wheel and the torch represent the sectors of the society both in rural and urban areas that are the social foundation of revolutionary democracy who have organized themselves under the EPRDF. The two hands represent the readiness of the people to rally behind the revolutionary democracy and their comradeship. The star represents the bright hope that the front has to build a sustainable democratic order in the country. The flag of the EPRDF The flag of the EPRDF is a red flag highlighted by the party emblem on it. The party emblem and flag are symbol and sign of the EPRDF. party organization at all levels and all party members shall safeguard the sanctity of the party emblem and flag. Member parties also have their own flag.
1.3 Publication Addis Ra-iy (a concept paper published every two month) 1.4 HEADQUARTERS Addis Ababa,Arat Killo,near the national parliament EPRDF: In Brief II. III. IV. ORGANIZATION AND WORKING PRINCIPLES 2.1 The EPRDF is a front founded by the union of revolutionary democratic organizations. 2.2 All EPRDF member organizations have the obligation to implement EPRDF s national revolutionary democratic program in their respective regions. 2.3 The EPRDF is a front of organizations with equal status. 2.4 All organizations embraced by the EPRDF are those that are guided by democratic principles and pursue the practice (procedure) of democratic centralism. 2.5 The EPRDF organs at all levels pass decisions by majority vote after holding thorough discussions. 2.6 One person will have only one vote. A proposed motion will be a common guideline if it wins 50% + 1 vote of the total votes in a particular meeting VALUES OF THE EPRDF 3.1 Transparency and accountability 3.2 Democratic centralism 3.3 Equality and freedom 3.4 Prompt performance. MEMBERSHIP 4.1 Any organization that has accepted the program and statute of the EPRDF and has readiness for the implementation, has fully realized democratic process in its internal workings and Has secured a community basis for the implementation of the program and conduct concrete activities may become a member of the 5
front. 4.2 An organization is admitted to a membership in the front if it is a national political party or a front in a regional state founded by various national revolutionary democratic fronts or a multi-national organization or regional and national revolutionary democratic organization, not individually. 4.3 An organization that is willing to raise financial contributions to the implementation of front s activities. 4.4 An organization that has completed probationary period. V. MANAGEMENT BODIES AND STRUCTURE A. The General Congress B. The Council of the EPRDF C. The Executive Committee D. The Chairperson of the EPRDF E. The Deputy Chairperson F. Control Commission G. Secretariat of the EPRDF H. Parliamentary Structure of the EPRDF I. Women s League J. Youth League K. Junior bodies of the EPRDF 6 A. Congress of the EPRDF 1. It is the highest body of the front. 2. The congress conducts its meeting within every two or two and half years. 3. The congress is composed of equal number of representatives from member organizations. 4. It has the power to approve, amend and change the program and the statute of the front. 5. Sets national policies and strategies by which the front is directed. Organizational Congresses and Resolution Passed Since its establishment, the EPRDF has held eight congressional meetings and passed different decisive resolutions.
The First Congress - Took place in January 1991, in Tigray state, at a place called Kolla Tembien. Resolutions Intensify the armed struggle to speed up the downfall of the military regime. Directions were set on how to bring about peace and stability across the country after the fall of the dictatorial regime. The Second Congress - Conducted in December 1995, in Hawassa, the state of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region. Resolutions The first Plan of the EPRDF for Peace, Development and Democracy was approved. Directions were set on how the constitutional system could be made effective. 7
The Third Congress - held in December 1998, in Jimma, the Regional state of Oromia Resolutions Amendments were made on the organizational program of the front. Decision was passed to uphold the distinctive features of Revolutionary Democracy and the struggle for the cause. 8 The Fourth Congress - Conducted in August 2001, in Addis Ababa. Named a Renewal Congress, it evaluated a decade long journey of the EPRDF. Resolutions
The congress passed series of decisions to fight corruption, chauvinism, narrow nationalism, undemocratic and rentseeking tendencies from among the party leadership and members. The causes of the Ethio-Eritrea war and the measures taken by the government were examined and lessons were drawn. The first Five Year Peace, Development and Democracy Plan and the performance of the party with regard to the second national election were evaluated deeply. The second Five Year Plan for Peace, Development and Democracy was endorsed. The Fifth Congress - Conducted in September 2004, in Bahirdar city, Amhara Regional state. The congress was named Emerta Congress meaning Leap forward congress. 9
EPRDF: In Brief 10 Resolutions The execution of the Peace, Development and Democracy Plan was evaluated in detail, areas of focus were identified and directions were set. Decisions were passed to bring about landmark results in development and good governance. The Sixth Congresses Carried out in September 2006, in Mekelle city, the Regional state of Tigray. Resolutions Decisions were passed to Register economic development and bring about fundamental change in good governance. Leadership capacity building was also given high priority from among the decisions passed by the congress.
EPRDF: In Brief The Seventh Congress Took place in September 2008, in Hawassa city, the Regional state of Southern Ethiopia Nations, Nationalities and Peoples. It was conducted under the motto scale up best practices that transform Ethiopia. Resolutions Plans that had been set on the sixth congress were evaluated in detail and urban, infrastructural, technological and micro-economic development works were identified as focus areas up to the 8th congress. 11
A resolution was passed to scale up best Practices registered in all development areas. 12 The 8th Congress - Held in September2010, in Adama, the Regional state of Oromia under the slogan: The Ethiopian Renaissance will reach irreversible stage through the implementation of the Growth and Transformation Plan. Resolutions Has passed resolutions that guide the organization in transforming the country to a new chapter by implementing the Growth and Transformation Plan which was formulated evaluating the previous performance of the party. B. The Council of the EPRDF It is the second highest body. The council is accountable to the congress. The council comprises of members equally represented from Central Committee of member organizations.(180
members currently 45 from each member) Adopts policies and other relevant issues; formulates activity plans of the front. C. Executive Committee It is accountable to the EPRDF Council. Implements the decisions and guidelines of the EPRDF council. Currently consists of 36 members, nine from each member organizations. The committee has a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson. 13
14 EPRDF Executive Committee Members 1. Comrade Hailemariam Desalegn 2. Comrade Shiferawu Shigute 3. Comrade Redwan Husen 4. Comrade Mekuria Haile 5. Comrade Alemayehu Assefa 6. Comrade Debebe Abera 7. Comrade Tagese chafo 8. Comrade Siraj Fegesa 9. Comrade Dr. Shiferaw Teklemariam 10. Comrade Demeke Mekonnen 11. Comrade Ayalew Gobeze 12. Comrade Bereket Simon 13. Comrade Gedu Andargachew 14. Comrade Tefera Derbew 15. Comrade Binalf Andualem 16. Comrade Berhan Hailu 17. Comrade Ahmed Abtew 18. Comrade Alemnew Mekonnen 19. Comrade Abay Woldu 20. Comrade Dr. Debretsiyon Gebremikeal 21. Comrade Dr. Tewodros Adhanom 22. Comrade Tewodros Hagos 23. Comrade Tsegaye Berhe 24. Comrade Azeb Mesfine 25. Comrade Beyene Mikru 26. Comrade Abadi Zemo 27. Comrade Alemayehu Atomsa 28. Comrade Muktar Kedir 29. Comrade Kuma Demekisa 30. Comrade Sofiyan Ahimed 31. Comrade Diriba Kuma 32. Comrade Aster Mamo 33. Comrade Werkneh Gbebyehu 34. Comrade Eshetu Dese 35. Comrade Abdulaziz Mehamed
Current Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Front Comrade HaileMariyam Desalegn Chairman Comrade Demeke Mekonnen Deputy Chairman 15
D. The Secretariat 1. This body executes the day today political, organizational and administrative works of the front. Its head quarter is based in Addis Ababa. Head of the secretariat is appointed by the executive committee along with heads of the four sectors of the secretariat. 2. The EPRDF administrative committees in Addis Ababa and Diredawa city administrations are directly accountable to the EPRDF secretariat. E. Control Commission Is established by members from each member organizations, two from each Is accountable to the congress. Examines the respect of the rights of assigned workers in each member organizations and communal institutions of the front. Examines cases of violation of rights committed by communal committee and passes decisions. VI. MAIN POINTS ABOUT EPRDF PROGRAM 6.1 Political Program 16 EPRDF s strategic political program objectives are: 1. To put in place a stable multiparty democratic system whereby the human and democratic rights of citizens enshrined in the constitution are fully respected. 2. To strengthen democratic institutions and culture by ensuring:- - popular participation in the country s political and economic life; - the establishment and growth of a free and vibrant press; - the creation and entrenchment of a fully independent judiciary that is loyal to the constitution and the respect of the rule of law
3. To realize a democratic order in free and active popular participation by ensuring that - Special attention is given to active, free and democratic participation of the peasantry and the urban population; - Citizens are freely organized under trade, civic, selfhelp and community associations and ensure that their associations are democratic and advancing their entitlements and interests. - Arrangements are put in place whereby elected representatives at all levels and accountable to the electorate are put in place and they can be recalled in case of dissatisfaction on the part of the latter. - The organs of government at all levels discharge their responsibilities with transparency and accountability. 4. To struggle for the creation of a firm democratic unity based on respect for the equality and rights of the people and sense of solidarity and fraternity among them by:- - Making sure that the constitutionally guaranteed right to self-determination of nations, nationalities and peoples up to secession is not eroded; - Ensuring a strong solidarity among the Ethiopian peoples with their free consent and fraternity in an atmosphere where their constitutional rights are fully respected; - Ensuring the respect for the people s right to local selfgovernment and the use of their languages; - Making certain that all peoples enjoy equitable representation in public institutions, with power to make collective decisions, and in elected bodies of the government; - Strengthening unwaveringly Ethiopian unity on the basis of equality, mutual respect and fraternity; - Sustaining unabatedly the fight against narrow nationalism and chauvinism that are detrimental to the democratic unity of the Ethiopian people; 17
- Protecting, preserving, recognizing and developing the cultural and historical heritages that are the shared legacy of the people. 6.2 Economic Program EPRDF s strategic economic objectives are: 1. To build a robust free market economy; 2. To ensure rapid and sustainable economic development; 3. To ensure that the people are genuine beneficiaries from the growth and development; 4. To improve the growth of the share of the country in the global economy and ensure its economic independence. These strategic objectives are achieved through. 1. Rural Centered Agriculture Led Development Strategy The EPRDF formulated this strategy because the majority of the population (about 85%) is rural and limited investment yields great returns in agriculture. Ensuring rapid development in rural areas by 18 - Making the rural labor productive through education and training, health care and provision of improved technology; - Building infrastructure that supports agricultural development, education, health services, irrigation schemes and the like; - Enabling Farmers produce commodities that are in demand and competitive in quality and price. - Strengthening the coordination and mutual support of agriculture and other sectors of the economy. Industry, commerce and service will gradually become the leading sectors of the economy; - Ensuring the country s food security, through improved land use and proper selection of agricultural practices with optimal yield in a given area, and through efficient
use of rainfall and dry land water, through improvement of trade among rural and urban communities.and through voluntary resettlement and free movement of labor and by launching income-generating activities based on agriculture; - Making certain that animal husbandry flourishes among pastoralists through improvement in the number and quality of animals, and growth in the market for animals and animal products. - Ensuring that agricultural development is supported by sustained research and high productivity of agricultural technology. 2. Optimal and Coordinated Use of Resources by - Making certain that the rural and urban population is fully participating in development. - Ensuring that strategies in industrial development focus on areas that are labor intensive and that promote the productivity of labor. - Making sure that investors engaged in the production of goods and services that contribute to economic growth are fully supported since the private sector plays a unique role in the building of a free market economy. - Demonstrating clearly that seeking self-enrichment through corruption, illicit trade, rent-collection and the like are fully checked and discouraged, alongside supporting the private enterprise engaged in development. - Ensuring that the government invests in spheres where there are bottlenecks to development and in areas where the private sector could not engage at the desirable scale and quality. 19
3. Balanced Development of Regions by: - Making certain that development in various regions is guided by the twin aims of speeding up the country s overall economic growth, and creating a fully integrated single economic community. - Ensuring equality of rights and opportunities among regions so that they can achieve the optimal growth principle. Special capacity building support is provided to regions disadvantaged in implementation capability. - Making sure subsidies to regional states are made on the basis of transparent formula of appropriation. 4. Urban Development Strategy by: 20 - Ensuring the establishment of cities and towns that support rural development and serve as hubs for commercial and industrial development closely linked to agriculture. - Making sure that urbanization and urban development are planned in coordination with agricultural and industrial development. - Ensuring that infrastructures of cities are tailored according to their role in the economic development of their environs. - Ensure popular participation in the political administration, security and development of urban centers. - Making certain that the provision of urban land and infrastructure accords priority to commercial and production plants to be established in the areas. - Ensuring that urban centers develop their capacity to raise funds and collect the revenue necessary for urban administration and development.
5. Guarantee rapid industrial development by - Ensuring the expansion of industry is based on agricultural growth and coordinated with the agriculture sector, and ensuring that the new industries are as far as possible labor intensive; - Making certain that industrial growth focuses on the production of exportable commodities that are competitive in quality and price at the international market; - Ensuring that adequate support is given to encourage private enterprises to play a key role in industrial development and ensure that public development enterprises are privatized; - Creating favorable conditions to foreign enterprises to boost industrial growth; - Ensuring support for the spread and growth of small private development enterprises that can strengthen industry and furnish it with a broad base. 6.3 Social Program The strategic social objective of EPRDF: In integration with economic development, aims at realizing rapid social development out of which the people will savor utmost gains. To affect this social objective, it will implement the following social programs. 21 1. Establish a high standard educational and training system that is integrated with the production and development activities. In doing so, it will
- Provide primary schooling for all. Design the education in such a way that it produces duty bound productive citizens well aware of their rights with entrenched democratic attitudes; - Expand secondary school education parallel with economic development; - Design a broad vocational training system geared towards the development strategy; - Expand higher education in line with the economic development strategy so as to conduct research essential for the economic, social and political development of the country; - Expand as much as possible informal and specialized education; - Encourage investors and non-governmental organizations to participate in educational services at all levels and disciplines within the range of the curriculum set by the government. 2. Stand unflinchingly for the rights of workers and equality of women. In doing so, it will 22 - Fight for improvement of wages and working environment keeping pace with the level of economic development of the country; enforce constitutional rights of workers to organize, negotiate and strike, and ensure organizational independence and democratic operations of trade unions; - Exert efforts for sustainable industrial peace, which is pivotal for development; - Struggle for equal participation of women in political, economic and social affairs while savoring equally the benefits of economic growth; - Encourage the formation of women s association and consolidate them to foster the struggle for equality of women and boost democratic participation in their associations.
3. Build prevention-oriented health system so as to - Make health service tasks focus mainly on disease prevention; - Launch continuous and constant participatory anti-hiv/ AIDS campaign to fight HIV/AIDS decisively; - Make the health service focus on basic health services to benefit the public in general, and the rural population in particular since they had been denied the services; - Encourage investors and non-governmental organizations to participate in rendering health services. 6.4 Foreign Affairs Programs EPRDF s strategic foreign affairs policy objective is: Creating international and regional conditions fostering the country s major national interest of building a democratic order and a lasting peace essential to the attainment of those aspirations, which are the central manifestation of EPRDF s national interest and sovereignty. To realize the strategic goal the front shall carry out the following: - Upholds a foreign affairs policy guided by and being in the service of programs guaranteeing rapid development that benefit the people and promote economic independence; - Ensures friendly and cooperative relations with all countries; - Ensures, through firm commitment, the peace and stability of the region; - Provides firm support for African Unity and African Cooperation and ensures also that Ethiopia plays a constructive role in the expansion of the Africa fora; - Supports international efforts for peace, justice and development. 23
VII. MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS OF THE FRONT Tigray People s Liberation Front (TPLF) 24 a) Establishment Ten progressive individuals from Tigray founded it on February 18, 1975 at a place named Dedebit. TPLF had envisioned the ousting of the dictatorial military regime through armed struggle and replace it by a democratic order. It became a role model for other nations and nationalities that destine to get organized and fight the oppressive regime. It is one of the founding members of EPRDF. b) Headquarters - Mekelle c) Congresses Conducted The first organizational congress was conducted in February 1979, at Mai Abay, Shire province. The second in May 1983, at Tselimo, Shire province. The third in March 1989, at Abera Tselemti. The fourth in December 1994, in Mekelle. The fifth in 1997, in Mekelle. The sixth in September 2000, in Mekelle. The seventh in September 2003, in Mekelle. The eighth in September 2006, in Mekelle. The ninth in September 2008, in Mekelle. The tenth in September 2010, in Mekelle d) Executive Committee Members of the TPLF 1. Comrade Abay Woldu [chairman] 2. Comrade Dr. Debretsiyon Gebremikeal [vice chairman] 3. Comrade Dr. Tewodros Adhanom 4. Comrade Tewodros Hagos 5. Comrade Tsegaye Berhe
6. Comrade Azeb Mesfine 7. Comrade Beyene Mikru 8. Comrade Abadi Zemo e. Chairman of the TPLF Comrade Abay Woldu chairman 25
26 The Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM) a) Establishment It was founded in November 1981 by 37 progressive individuals in Tigray at a place known as Tekrarwuha. The founding members were a splinter group of the former EPRP. After it has organized itself under a democratic program, the movement waged armed struggle against the military regime in Waghimra,the then Wollo province. It is a founding member of the EPRDF b) Headquarters: Bahirdar c) Congresses Conducted The first organizational congress took place in 1983, at Jerba Yohannes in Waghimra province. The second in June 1989, inside Taba Cave in Waghimra. The third in 1999, in Bahirdar. (The congress decided that the multinational nomination of the Movement, EPDM, be changed to Amhara National Democratic Movement ANDM). The fourth in November 1996, in Bahirdar. The fifth in August 2000, in Bahirdar. The sixth 2004,in Bahirdar. The seventh in September 2006, in Bahirdar. The eighth in September 2008, in Bahirdar The ninth in September 2010, in Bahirdar d) Executive Committee Members of the ANDM 1. Comrade Demeke Mekonnen {chairman} 2. Comrade Ayalew Gobeze {vice chairman} 3. Comrade Bereket Simon 4. Comrade Kassa Tekleberhan 5. Comrade Gedu Andargachew
6. Comrade Tefera Derbew 7. Comrade Binalf Andualem 8. Comrade Berhan Hailu 9. Comrade Ahmed Abtew 10.Comrade Alemnew Mekonnen 11.Comrade Adisu Leggese 12.Comrade Tadesse Kassa 13.Comrade Melaku Fenta e. Chairman of the ANDM Comrade Demeke Mekonnen Chairman 27
3. Oromo People s Democratic Organization (OPDO) a) Establishment It was founded in March 26, 1990 in North Shoa, Dera District at Gundomeskel. b) Headquarters: Addis Ababa c) Congresses conducted The first organizational congress was conducted in March. 1990, in North shoa, at Dera The second in July 2002, in Bishoftu. The third in August 1994, in Nekemte. The fourth in September 2004, in Finfine (Addis Ababa). The fifth in August 2006, in Adama. The sixth in August 2008, in Shashemene The seventh congress in September 2010, in Adama. d. Executive Committee Members of the OPDO 28 1. Comrade Alemayehu Atomsa [chairman] 2. Comrade Muktar Kedir [vice chairman] 3. Comrade Kuma Demekisa 4. Comrade Sofiyan Ahimed 5. Comrade Diriba Kuma 6. Comrade Aster Mamo 7. Comrade Werkneh Gbebyehu 8. Comrade Eshetu Dese 9. Comrade Abdulaziz Mehamed 10. Comrade Solomon Kuchu 11. Comrade Nurie Kemer 12. Comrade Abra Hailu 13. Comrade Umer Hussen
14. Comrade Bezu Waqbeka 15. Comrade Abdulkadir Hussein e. Chairman of the OPDO Comrade Alemayehu Atomsa chairman 29
4. Southern Ethiopia Peoples Democratic Movement (SEPDM) a) Establishment - It was founded in November 1992,in Hawassa - It was a front of 20 parties that got unified into one movement in 2002. b). Headquarters:Hawasa c) Congresses Conducted The first congress was conducted in September 1993, in Hawassa. The second in September1997, in Hawassa. The third in September 2000, in Hawassa. The fourth in September 2003, in Hawassa. The fifth in September 2005, in Wolayita Sodo. The sixth in September 2007, in Hawassa. The seventh in September 2010, in Hawassa. d. Executive Committee Members of the SEPDM 30 1. Comrade Hailemariam Desalegn (Chair person) 2. Comrade Shiferawu Shigute [vice chair person] 3. Comrade Redwan Husen 4. Comrade Mekuria Haile 5. Comrade Alemayehu Assefa 6. Comrade Debebe Abera 7. Comrade Dr. Shiferaw Teklemariam 8. Comrade Tagese chafo 9. Comrade Siraj Fegesa\
e. Chairman of the SEPDM Comrade HaileMariyam Desalegn Chairman 31
VIII. EPRDF YOUTH AND WOMEN S LEAGUES Missions of the EPRDF Youth and Women s Leagues 1. facilitating/speeding up/ societal change; 2. Working relentlessly to protect interests of the public section they represent; 3. serving as a forum to struggle for the benefits of their members; 4. Mobilizing the entire youth and women under common purpose/interest/. Resolution for Establishment the Youth and Women s Leagues The sixth EPRDF congress, which was held in 2006, had passed resolutions regarding the establishment of the Youth and Women s leagues for effective implementation of the EPRDF program. 8.1 YOUTH LEAGUE 32 After the sixth EPRDF congress passed resolutions regarding the establishment of youth league; all necessary preparations like drafting league program and the statute were carried out and discussions were made on the documents. The league: was established in May 2009 after the establishment of leagues of member organizations Is organized under the four member organizations and two administrative councils. Have 2,049,788 members (.1, 629,892 male and 419, 896females.)
Objectives:- Popularize the program of the EPRDF among the public ; Mobilize the youth around the program of the EPRDF; Increase the involvement of the youth in the overall development activities; Ensure that the youth are benefiting from the outcomes of developmental activities. 8.2 Women s League After the sixth EPRDF congress passed resolutions regarding the establishment of women s league; all necessary preparations like league s program and statute were drafted for discussion by founding members of the league. The league was established in May 2009 following the establishment of women s leagues of member organizations Is organized under the four member organizations and two city administrative councils has over 1.6 million members Objectives:- Popularizing the programs of the EPRDF to the public and struggling for its implementation so as to ensure the benefits of women in the country. Ensuring that women are beneficiaries from the ongoing development through increasing their participation in democratization process. Supporting and encouraging women s organizations so as to sustain their constitutional,democratic and human rights Building capacity of women and prepare them to exercise leadership. 33
IX. THE EPRDF AND ELECTION After the EPRDF had over thrown the Dergue Regime from power through a protracted armed struggle, it invited all political movements and armed groups to take part in the effort of formation of the transitional government so as to lay the foundations for building a democratic system and realize a peaceful power transition. With a view to realize this, a conference summoned by the EPRDF was conducted in Addis Ababa on 5, July 1991 with the participation of 29 national and regional political movements and armed groups as a result of which the Transitional Government of Ethiopia was formed. The then the Council of the Transitional government had 82 seats out of which the EPRDF through its members took 32. The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) had 12 seats. The rest of the seats were distributed among political groups and movements such as the Oromo Islamist Liberation Front, Afar Liberation Front, the Islamist Liberation Front and others. During the Transition period, works of drafting the constitution of the FDRE, formulation of policies and strategies and approving laws have been carried out there by put in place legal frameworks for transition of power to popular government and building democratic system. These legal frameworks have served vitally to carry out subsequent elections, government formation and other activities. 34 9.1. Election of members of house of people s representatives and state councils 9.1.1 Election 1995 (First round election of the FDRE) The first national election was conducted in 1995 to form a popular government in accordance with the constitution of the FDRE and the electoral law approved during the transition period. All in all, 7 National and 57 regional parties were registered by the National Electoral Board to contest in the election. In the election in which 19,986,179 of the registered 21,337,379 voters balloted, the EPRDF won 483 seats out of the 547 seats in the House of Peoples Representatives. Besides, the
EPRDF won most of the seats in the councils of states it competed in. 9.1.2. Election 2000 (2nd round election of the FDRE) The second election of members of the House of the Peoples Representatives and councils of regional members of the states took place on May14 and 31 August 2000. To contest in the election, 8 national and 57 regional political parties were registered by the National Electoral Board. Concurrently, 21,834,806 voters were registered, of which 19,607,614 (89.8%) voted for candidates of their interest. Accordingly, the EPRDF won 441 seats, affiliated parties to the EPRDF 35 opposition parties 58 and independent candidates 13 seats. 9.1.3. Election 2005 (3rd round election of the FDRE) The election for the membership in the House of Peoples Representatives and the regional states councils was characterized by two opposing tendencies that of the ruling party, aimed at realizing free and fair election on the one hand, and that of the opposition political parties targeted at controlling power using any means possible. However, 39 political parties were registered to compete in the election. Side by side, a total of 27,372,888 voters were registered. The election took place on 15, May 2005. This time, 22,610,690 (82.6%) of the registered voters cast ballots. The result of the election indicates that the EPRDF won 327 of the 547 seats in the House of People s Representatives there by secure majority seats to form the government and lead it for the third time. Out of the rest of the seats, the then CUD won 109 seats even though it declines to take the seats it won in the capital. Similarly, the then UEDF won 52 seats, the affiliated parties to the EPRDF 46, the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement 11 and independent candidate 1. Generally, despite the multifaceted challenges and illegal attempts of some opposition parties observed in the process of election, the election was impressive and exemplary to others in that it involved broad and active public, political parties and observer s participation. 35
9.1.4. Election 2010 (4th election of the FDRE) In order to elect their representatives, 31,926,320 voters were registered by the National Electoral Board. Concurrently, 63 political parties were registered. A total of 2,288 candidates were registered to compete for the seats in the House of Peoples Representatives. Out of these, 2,188 were proposed by various political parties whereas 34 were independent candidates. The election was conducted on 15, May 2010 and 29,832,190 voters voted for candidates of their interest. Accordingly, the EPRDF won 499 seats (91.22%), the EPRDF affiliated parties 46, the Ethiopian Federal Forum for Democracy and Unity 1 and an independent candidate 1 seat. The result of the election shows that the EPRDF secured the largest number of seats in the House Peoples Representatives ever than before. The EPRDF has also secured most of the seats in the state councils it competed for. 9.2. Local Elections 36 In the local elections held at various times throughout the country the Ethiopian People s Revolutionary Democratic Front and the affiliated parties to the EPRDF won most of the seats in city, woreda and kebele councils.
9.3 Table summarizing results of previous elections of members of the House of Peoples Representatives of the FDRE (including results of by-election) Numbers of seats won by Voters balloted Voters registered Parties registered Election date and year Round of elections Private Opposition parties EPRDF Parties affiliated to the EPRDF 1st 1995 44 21,337,376 19,986,179 495 45 4 8 40 21,834,816 19,607,841 479 45 10 13 33 27,372,888 22,610,690 365 46 136 1 40 31,926,320 29,832,190 499 46 1 1 2nd 14 May and 30 August 2000 3rd 7,May 2005 4th 15,May 2010 37
The secretariat of the council of the EPRDF provides Political and administrative services to the various structures of the EPRDF. It has organized different sectors and departments so as to be able to extend services efficiently. 38 Head of the Secretariat of Council of the EPRDF Comrade Redwan Hussen
Former Chairperson of the EPRDF and TPLF Comrade Meles Zenawi W ho Meles is has, no doubt, a great deal to do with the organization to which he belonged. Just as the organization bears the stamp of Meles s character, his character clearly manifests the trace of his organization and it s guiding principles. An organization with a culture of free discussion and debate was naturally hospitable to a person disposed to advance novel ideas and perspectives. Meles is animated by deep affection and unswerving commitment to the oppressed and dispossessed. He always places ahead the interest of the farmer and the pastoralist of rural Ethiopia. Meles is also a staunch defender of the rights of women and a champion of youth. Meles believes that status of women is a reliable measure of democratic freedom and economic progress in a society. Meles also underscores the importance of youth and the significance of winning their hearts and harnessing their capacity to carry on the struggle to attain freedom and to defeat poverty. The defining feature of Meles s life and character is his intense hatred of poverty with abject poverty it s idle to hope for peace or democracy. Nor can we truly honor the freedom and dignity of the individual or the community. Today, tragically 39
Meles is not physically amongst us. yet as was manifest in the acclaim, respect and affection shown across the country during this time of mourning his character and work will always remain in the memory of the Ethiopian people. We are confident that students of history will rank Meles among the few outstanding world leaders who championed the cause of the wretched and downtrodden with a promising vision and tireless dedication. (Taken from meles s portrait) 40
Secretariat office Address Tel 251 11243456 Fax: 251 111243456 Web site p.o.box:80007 Addis ababa Ethiopia 41
42