Ethiopia’s Meles retains prime minister post

Oct 10, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia’s new parliament convened Monday for the first time since still disputed May elections and chose Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to continue in the post amid a boycott by opposition lawmakers.

Meles’ ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which has been in power since 1991 and has a solid majority in the legislature, endorsed him to retain the premiership for another five-year term.

The choice was then confirmed by the parliament speaker in the absence of many opposition members of parliament who threatened to boycott Monday’s events, chaired by Ethiopia’s President Girma Wolde Giorigis, over alleged massive fraud in the May 15 polls.

The president rebuked those who stayed away warning them of tough consequences if they continue to press calls for the creation of a national unity government to oversee a re-run of the elections.

“The chapter of the third national elections has been concluded and those who were elected … are duty bound to take their seats and serve the people who have entrusted them with this great responsibility,” he told lawmakers.

Although the majority of MPs elected to the 547-member assembly did take part in the session only eight of the 109 elected from the main opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) were present, parliamentary officials said.

At the same time, all but one of the 52 elected MPs from the CUD’s chief ally in opposition, the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), attended, they said.

A UEDF lawmaker told AFP that their presence in parliament did not mean they had dropped their demands or conceded defeat.

“We have taken our seats respecting the mandate we were given by the people, this does not mean we abandoning our struggle for the respect of the people’s rights and interests,” MP Mekonne Gelta said.

“We will continue the struggle within the constitution by being in the parliament in a peaceful way,” he said.

The opposition had previously held just 12 seats in parliament and had predicted an overwhelming victory in the May polls.

After losing, the two groups accused the ruling EPRDF of stealing the election through massive fraud and had threatened an all-out boycott of parliament unless their concerns were addressed.

Protests over alleged irregularities sparked deadly violence in the capital in June when police opened fire on crowds during demonstrations and the opposition has vowed to stage mass rallies to demand a unity government.

The demand, however, has been repeatedly rejected by the EPRDF which holds 327 of the 547 seats in parliament and controls more if allied parties MPs are included.

International observers have given the May elections mixed reviews with some saying they failed to meet international standards and others urging the opposition to accept the results given their substantial gains in parliament.

The government has reacted angrily to the opposition stance and accused it of fomenting violence in a bid to overthrow a democratically elected administration.

Girma repeated those claims as he opened parliament on Monday and said any illegal actions would be sternly punished.

“It is known that in the aftermath of the elections, those who dispute the results have been engaged not in addressing their complaints through the provisions of the constitution, but through conspiracy and violence,” he said.

“As the government has the right and the duty to see to it that peace prevails and law and order are respected, it will not allow those who follow the path that wavers between the legal and illegal means of struggle to continue doing so.

“The government will sooner or later make the necessary decision and take appropriate steps as the current state of affairs will have dire consequences on the overall well being of the country,” the president said.

(AFP/ST)