In its second emergency session, the Parliament approved Proclamation No. 1394/2017, amending Proclamation No. 1162/2011, with a majority vote, two dissenting and four abstaining. The revised law, championed by the Standing Committee on Democracy Affairs, seeks to address long-standing gaps in the electoral code, including the regulation of political parties, electoral ethics, and dispute resolution.
Akinyi Alene, presenting the committee’s report, stressed that the reforms draw on international best practices and adopt technology-driven mechanisms to cut costs and improve efficiency.
The amendments aim to expand political participation, notably for women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Provisions have also been introduced to streamline how electoral grievances are addressed, shifting from polling-station-level committees to centralised regional structures. While some members questioned the removal of local grievance committees, Hezeki Alene explained that central oversight could ensure greater consistency and fairness.
Among other key changes is the reduction of mandatory party contribution fees from 30 to 20 percent, and an increase in the number of regions required to form a national party, from four to six, reflecting Ethiopia’s growing administrative landscape.
Members across party lines underscored that the amendment must do more than revise language, it must foster genuine multi-party dialogue and encourage coalition-building, ahead of the next national elections.
With the bill now law, Ethiopia stands at a critical juncture. The test, many say, will lie not in the promises on paper, but in the political will to implement them with integrity.