Ethiopia’s parliament structure favorable for multi-party sys: top legislator
Oct 13, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia’s top legislator said Thursday the existing nature and structure of the Ethiopian parliament has significant importance in developing the multi- party system in the country.
As quorum of the lower House of People’s Representatives (HPR) was filled in accordance with the results of the May 15 parliamentary election, the HPR conducted its first and second regular meetings, said newly-elected HPR Speaker Teshome Toga.
Teshome told journalists that better achievements have been witnessed from the existing parliament in terms of women’s participation and diversity of political parties.
Prior to the commencement of the parliament briefings were given for members of the house, he said, adding that it has been planned to organize a day-long workshop on the works of the parliament.
The parliament is undertaking activities aimed at building capacity of members of the parliament (MPs), said Teshome.
He said the HPR will carry out activities believed to enable it discharge its constitutional duties and establish various standing committees shortly.
Teshome added the house had also passed a decision for the extension of the existing provisional administration of the Addis Ababa city administration to fill the administration gap aroused as the winner party, the CUD, had failed to take over the city administration.
On Monday, the lower house of parliament opened for the first time since the May 15 parliamentary elections and re-elected Meles Zenawi as prime minister for a third five-year term.
The final election results indicated that Meles-led Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Party (EPRDF), which has ruled the country for the past 14 years, has won 327 seats of the 547- seat lower house of parliament, enough to form the federal government.
Ethiopians went to poll on May 15 in the country’s national elections to elect HPR representatives.
(Xinhua)