ETHIOPIA: European Commission hails election process

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

ADDIS ABABA, 9 May 2005 (IRIN) - The European Commission (EC) has welcomed the ongoing campaigns for national elections, saying Ethiopia's democratisation process was undergoing "a sea change."

The head of the EC in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Tim Clarke, told observers who have flown in to monitor the 15 May polls that the openness of the campaign was unprecedented. "Never before in Ethiopia’s history has there been such a wide and open debate on democracy issues," he said.

"This government has decided that it should try at least to have a level playing field," Clarke added. "Yes, there are difficulties; yes, there are problems along the line ... but they are trying their best and it is a difficult process."

Some 319 international observers – 200 from the EU – will monitor voting around the country. Thirty-five parties are contesting the election and there are 30,000 polling stations.

Dutch Ambassador Rob Vermaas echoed Clarke's comments: "Transition to democracy is an iterative and long-term process. As the concept of democracy was first outlined in the constitution of 1994, the progress made in this country is impressive.”

"Democracy is still a new concept in Ethiopia, but to a lesser degree than in 2000, the year the last elections were held," he added.

Over the weekend Ethiopians thronged the capital to back either the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) party or opposition groups as the country geared up for next weekend’s vote, in which over 25 million people are expected to go to the polls.

The elections will be only the third ever in Ethiopia’s history, and observers said they were a key test for the democratisation of the country.

Two main opposition groups, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) and the United Ethiopian Democratic Front, have announced they will join forces to try and defeat the ruling party.

At a CUD rally in Meskal Square in central Addis Ababa, party chairman Hailu Shawel promised widespread economic and land reform.

"We want change and we want a new government," Hailu said. "We need job creation to bring about poverty alleviation, not dependency on foreign aid -- which is what we have now."

About 20 percent of Ethiopia's budget is funded by foreign donors and government officials put the unemployment rate at between 40 and 50 percent in the capital, where some four million Ethiopians live.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told a large crowd on Saturday that they should hold peaceful elections and vote for the government based on its record.

"We urge you to vote in a peaceful manner," he said. "If you elect us [the ruling party], I promise in the name of all party members that we will do all we can for the well-being of the people and the country."

Meles pledged in a four-hour interview on state television that the ruling EPRDF would hand over power if they were defeated in the polls. Elections are also being held for the state councils, which then form Ethiopia’s 112-seat House of Federation.

[ENDS]