What did EPRDF do since election 2005 to convince Addis residents to vote for its candidates? And why did voters give their overwhelming support for the continuation of the current
Status quo all over the country?
Do you think voters gave the nod to EPRDF because they like what they see or are mad at oppositions for the bickering and their poor performance in managing internal squabbles?
Now that EPRDF has won with a wide margin what do you think was the real cause? Economic or ideology? Do you believe HRW allegation crap of intimidation as a cause or the other crap one opposition leader said the “X-Ray Machine” had some thing to do with it?Have Your say!
Good, the third national election has stimulated EPRDF to learn from its failure and solve problems which led EPRDF for more achievements and successes. Accordingly EPRDF won in the n4th national election significantly. CONGRA EPRDF and the whole Ethiopian people!
Excellent, we look forward the fifth national election too to stimulate fundamentally the development processes of our economy & democracy and essentially EPRDF and opposition parties.
But, I believe that rebuilding the EPRDF should be a lot better than rebuilding oppsition parties.
The opposition are scary. they are driven by blanket hate and people subconsciously feel they are very devisive. They are given to intolerance. They do not listen to public views. They suffer from ethnophobia (trhey do not want to listen to the presence of ethnic groups in ethiopia). By dismissing ethnicity as taboo subject they alieniate thyemselves form the great majority of people in ethiopia; they are very dismissive. One fears they want to brutally involve their wish on the ethiopian people. They are haunted by Mengistu’s ghost; that of ethnicless, unitary, monolithic ethiopia baked in to submission to a totalitarian leader.
I did not expect the opposition will win more than hundred sits but such kind of sweep shows how the EPRDF controlled and engineered the election. For the last five years the government has worked very hard to blackmail, intimidate and isolate the opposition.
Well now that the so called election is over the opposition has to move on with the outcome and work hard for the future, though the future still looks gloom. A recount or going to court is not going to change any thing since the election board and the courts are controlled by the government. Opposition forces have to accept the result for the sake of the people so no one gets killed like the previous election. Ethiopia needs a strong. Opposition and it will take some time to build one but I don’t think EPRDF likes a strong opposition.
God bless Ethiopia.
17-years ago there were only two universities, but today there are 23 universities and ten nwe universities are under construction and millions of Ethiopians got the chance to study and improve their lives. 20 years ago there was only one political party, but today there are 63 registered political parties. For the last seven years, Ethiopia’s economy has been growing by more than 10 %, Ethiopia is a country under massive infrastructure construction. In general the changes which we have seen and witnessed in Ethiopia since 2000 are phenomenon. Democracy in Ethiopia is evolving slowly, but surely, democracy is a process not an event and Ethiopia in the right direction.
The elections held on the 23rd of May 2010 were peaceful, very high turnout (about 92 per cent), calm, fair and democratic as it is only the 4th parliamentary elections, there were some miner technical mistakes and problems with the voting, however, they would not change the final result. Even the USA which has been practising democracy for about two hundred years is not 100% perfect, the 2000 presidential election depute that resolved in court is a very good example.
Why the ruling party EPRDF won the elections overwhelmingly and on the contrary why the opposition parties have lost their seat entirely ?
The reasons are:
1) The ruling party EPRDF has brought so many tangible changes and developments; the Ethiopian people have already benefited and are benefiting from these phenomenon developments.
2) Ethiopians do believe in the ruling party more than any other opposition parties.
3) EPRDF is the only political party that is capable of leading the Ethiopian people and maintain lasting peace and stability.
4) EPRDF is the only political party which has good vision, programmes and the capacity to bring more changes, developments and prosperity for the Ethiopian people. .
5) It is the most dynamic political party that has changed the lives millions of Ethiopians. That is why almost the entire nations and nationalities have voted for EPRDF, so the will of Ethiopians must be respected, no more no less.
Why the opposition parties have lost their seat entirely ?
Because, they can not even lead their own parties let alone to lead a country such as Ethiopia. They do not have programmes to lead the nation. They are fighting each other and are very divided. They are only interested in hate politics, what the Ethiopian people are tiered of. The Ethiopian people did not like the opposition parties’ politics that why Ethiopians have voted against them.
T. Taye
Congrats EPRDF you won the elaction now is the time to form a
new party with new & young members the old politicians need to retier
gracefully too much hate it is becomming too personal
The Ethiopian people have spoken! The decipiline, the order, the coolness of the electorate have sent ethiopia’s enemies to jealiously deny the facts that Ethiopian are still proud & can make their own history as usual!
We know the external enemies of Ethiopia will continue to subotage out endeavors but it never happened before & it will never happen!
Some” aysemu aydemu” power hungry entities like gunbot 7 , Medrek … Could be used by extenal enemies,but since this it a critical time for our future , we will join our government from every direction to make history once again in this era!
We seen some joining ethiopia’s enemies simply for their grudge & power hunger, as the proverb of donkey says” ene kelelehu serdon aybqel” . May be serdo will not grow in your back yard but the Ethiopian people have witnessed that Ethiopia is in good hands & prooved it by electing the hands!
In the next five years, EPRDF will surprise the Ethiopian people & will vote for it once again! That what had happenned in Japan,S.Korea,Singapoor… One party led them to success & became the engine of the world economy!
Therefore, now we are in a revolution of democracy & let’s stand up with the revolutionary democrate!
I heard the opposition confusing themselves about revolutionary democracy. Our country needs a revolution that prepares it for a geniun democracy. That’s why the EPRDF is in a democratic revolution!
1. Keep an eye on the never learning and never changing so called Opposition but a bunch of feudal minded and greedy individuals so that they do not stand as an obstacle to Ethiopia’s ongoing positive development.
2. Keep on working for the people as the premier said.
Good luck!
I am getting equal services wz that of the EPRDF members as a citizen excluding z poletical aspects. So, people in Ethiopia are now free, they can speak what they want, can do what they want do, can go to where they wnat to go. every citizen is practicing democracy.
I am living in Ethiopia. I almost saw every part of z country. But i hve never seen any one being oppressed(“NOW A DAYS EVERY ONE STARTING FROM 5,6,7 YAERS OLD UPTO THE OLDEST PEOPLE KNOWS WHAT HUMAN RIGHT IS”) . So from where did u bring z news zat says “There is no democracy in Ethiopia”?? pls people be honest, think to ur people and ur country, stop dramatizing z meaning odf Democracy.
THIS IS MY WITTNESS AS A NEUTRAL CITIZEN!!!
Wedi weyenti,
The case of Birtukan is the case of the law that most of her members have respected as they promised excluding berhanu and his terrerist friends. so, who is she? In any means she must respect z law. nothing else…..
EPRDF won the election because he had been working hard. And his work is tangible and not feeding a lot of promises which he can not do. The People of Ethiopia have really seen and realised and gave their best to this Party. EPRDF have what the other parties don’t have .He have clear Party program which is practical for our Country . This government is practicing his own program and showed, the result is again practical. He won the trust of Ethiopian people through hard work and mutual understanding and harmony with one another and with the people of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is becoming suitable country to live in this region to tell you i am doing my PhD in USA but i am will return back Home and live there teaching in one Ethiopian Universities. Life standard in Ethiopia is becoming good and there are opportunists that u can earn as u can do here in USA, there is freedom and full of respect of the people. further more the racism that once was key problem in Ethiopia due to the rumors of opposition and their campaign tactics is now lessened almost there is no racism b/s all Ethiopians are bored of the hate politics and the connection of each regions through University students and other economic means made each Ethiopians know the truth
I only wanted to say that I am bemused by the contents of the mails here. All of the people who had their views here are right in their own way. What I leaned from the past 19 years of EPRDF rule in Ethiopia is that there is no absolute truth in the sphere of politics! You can even say a stone is a tree!
The oppostions are not ready yet to be in power. The public polatical maturty is saving the nation . I hope the oppostions will be better of to represent the public in large . A balanced REPRESANTATION IS CRUCIAL FOR DEAMCRACY TO EVOLVED. One more thing to add ,Melese does not the the public sentement about assa .The Assab issue is not about port it is about prestige. I ty is important Assab is understood in that context. ONE OF THE MEASURE OF PRESTIGE IS LOCATION LOCATION AND LOCATION.
I want to say something about Professor Beyene’s speech for VOA. He has “exposed” that the Ethiopian youth in particular and the people in general are paid to vote EPRDF.
Some of us had positive reception for scholars like Professor Beyene, because we imagine that scholars have best ability to analyse what they observed than other illitrate people. We also had a beliefe that these scolars are honest and always telling us truths.
But, I heard in my ears and look at in my eyes that Professor Beyene laying for VOA about may 23,2010 national election of ethiopia. Dear Professor and his supporters don’t you think this is shame for you and your party? What is the main reason for your pretention. Do you think that it has a role to render null and void of your party’s failure? If that is the case it is a foolish appraoch which dishonor you, scholars like you and your party. If you have a respect for Ethiopians, please try to take some measure on the subject.
Another shameful act is that of VOA. they aired the case without crosschecking it. Why do you do that? We guess that Ethiopians do not have access for VOA as opposition parties. Try to ask the local people also. We are in a fast development and democratization process. Do you know what fast development means? If you are honest, come and have your own imaginations and visualizations. Those oppsition parties do not have sense organs for visualization and imagination.
we have to review all past and present struggle of EPRDF
EPRDF is a party that wins and dismantle that facist DERG from its base and teaches the real democracy for all nation nationality. in most places in ADDIS it was not respected in 2005 election, because of improper election process and some emotional theory from oppsition parties, in 2005 makes us confused and we learn after the election EPRDF too.we love each other we understand more about EPRDF it works and brings prosperity for milion farmers we need such a strong leadership. the so called oppsiton parties are still biting each other how can they lead this country? if they were strong enough y not we elect them? they are also ethiopians.
they must learn but they want to teach us politics. i advice for all Mr. professors …………………………….
I think the country deserved to have EPRDF not only for the next five years but forever indeed.Because EPRDF is the only party that brings democracy equal equality to all Ethiopians for the first time. As we all knows,the previous Ethiopian governments were simply against humanity. If we see Mengistu case,Mengistu were simply human voucher and his daily basis job was just to kill an innocent Ethiopians. If we talk about Haileselasie, he was simply one ethic which was an (Amhara) ethic dominant government.
Here is in the other hand,EPRDF sacrifices so many fallen heroes for 17 years of tough struggle but never said the country should be governed by EPRDF. Rather EPRDF invited to all Ethiopian opposition parties whom were opposing Deruge and asking them to work together. So those opposition pates never has given a single life the struggle rather than sitting in Europe,Australia, United States and else where in world simply watching while others die for them.
So what do we excepted from the if they win the election on Sunday? nothing ideological but simply creating hate among Ethiopian ethnic and lead the country to the worsen scenario we ever seen in Ethiopian history. This is the true fact about the opposition parties aim.
Finally, electing EPRDF is the only way solution for Ethiopia for the time being unless we have to see what is next after five years from now. God bless EPRDF and Ethiopian people.
Thanks Aiga Form for posting my comment. Fissaha
It is not only Democracy to be sustain EPRDF for the coming two decades and more. it is providing fast development equly with democracy will sustain EPRDF.don’t histate that this is true in Ethiopia now adays.we the people are running to participate in all aspectes of the country.no one is the owner of this newly emerging nation execpt the Ethoipian people.not the craying outside.our development and democracy is on the hands of our people. it is not and will not imported from outsid(europ and americe.)
thank you Mr. ALEMAYEHU we need such undertsndable people for our nation. our opposition learders weakness is they are depending with out side foces like HRW and western media and western NGO s they don’t understand the Ethiopian people interest. we respect ourmother land our constitution and in total our law. this opposition parties if they win i hope to make any proclamation or laws for Ethiopia they may Ask advice from USA or from EOROPE how can they lead such a great country? let them get ready by themself and compete the election process through democratic means.
actually they don’t trust the people whom they want to elect them they need even observer from EOROPE and USA. it should give a lesson for any party for the future we Ethiopian people should be trusted with all parties. we are the one to be a kingmaker not western powers or HRW.
so trust observers from ethiopia we should give them lessons for western colonizers.as the DERG didn’t trust any one some oppositons also want observers from west? not from Africa
pls. learn more at this time Ethiopian people is wise no one can cheat us.
In my own opinion , Ethiopia doesn’t need an opposition but an alternative party that cooperates to farther pep-up the all out endeavors going on in our country.
From the fourth national election perspective, there is a political stage that have never been seen in Ethiopian political history but there is no alternative party that want to vitalize & use it in a proper way. All we have heard was denial of the facts on the ground! For this, the Ethiopian people have been listening & the punishment that theyain was hefty. I hope the next opposition party will learn from all this & emerge victorious !
Dear Yassin and woldai I would like to use this opportunity to appriciate both oppinion.as all of you mention that we can say all opposition partys are Rent seekers.they do’t have vission.they are ready to sale our beloved country for colonizers.they are runing for power,not national building.they does’t understand the global poletics ,what is going on after the cold war. they don’t understand the intention of the West ern MEDIA,NGOS AND CIVEL SOCITIES .they do’t have relevant policy(allternative) MR. Yssin and Woldai pleas tell them about national consensus.about national building.pleas tell them what is going on in our country.
Yes EPRDF has won the polls. Its succes shohld not however be counted as a merit to its good qualities. The oppsition had a better potential to win, but it did not use it.
This weakness had been exploited by the EPRDF.
The opposition has no clear cut goals, lacks internal unity and dedicated leaders.
As long as the opposition does not lear from its mistakes ethnic minority TPLF will rule.
The people of Ethiopia have spoken, the so called opositions have to accept the defeat whether they like it or not. In fact the opositons have no substance. They should bring a new idea and sell it to the people.