Ethiopia’s opposition CUDP re-launches legal recognition process
Mar 4, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — A group of elected members of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) in both the Addis Ababa City Council and the federal parliament this week started attempts at reviving the stalled process of legalization of their party.
CUDP, which used to constitute four parties, decided on September 24, 2005 to merge into one unitary party. But the merger was put on hold when one of its constituting party, EDUP-Medhin, leadership declined to give full support and put preconditions to go ahead with a complete merger.
Though some of the EDUP leadership gave their consent to the merger, the faction led by its Secretary General Lidetu Ayalew, challenged the merger agreement.
Although with the election of Lidetu to the chairpersonship EDUP has formally distanced itself from the merger, other notable personalities of the party, such as Dr. Admassu Gebeyehu, and others from the rest of the three CUDP constituting parties, have decided to revive the merger process.
Dr. Admassu told The Reporter that they are trying to have their party registered by the National Electoral Board (NEB) in accordance with the decision reached on September 24, 2005.
“The unified CUDP had faced obstacles to complete the merger and get legal recognition by the electoral board. We want to go ahead from where we stopped,” Dr. Admassu said.
As to how to deal with the challenges they were going to face Admassu indicated that there could be several problems but that they intended to tackle them one by one. “We will try to iron out the details in the future. We will discuss them with the board and get solutions,” he said.
CUDP’s parliamentarian caucus whip, Temesgen Zewide, also told The Reporter that they had contacted people at the electoral board and the response they had got so far was positive.
“There are some details and requirements that we have to first fulfill. And we are trying to do that at the moment,” Temesgen said.
(The Reporter/ST)