AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - Premier’s Party declared winner of May 15 elections. But Opposition says battle is not over

Monday, 30 May 2005

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Addis Ababa (Fides Service) - The political situation in Ethiopia remains uncertain after the independent electoral commission announced that the May 15 elections had been won by the Party led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
The Commission said votes counted in 478 of the 547 constituencies gave the victory to the Ethiopian People’s Democratic Revolutionary Front (EPDRF) with 286 seats. Another 15 seats were won by regional EPDRF allies. However with its 286 seats this Party has already the absolute majority in Parliament and does not need support of allies to govern. The opposition which had 12 seats in the previous parliament and like the government party claimed victory, is reported to have obtained 177 seats.
The main opposition parties Coalition for Unity and Democracy CUD and the United Ethiopian Democratic Front UEDF denounced fraud and irregularities. On 23 May CUD threatened to boycott the next parliament unless the requested investigation was started on irregularities reported by the opposition, noted in only 140 constituencies. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 30/5/2005 righe 20 parole 204)