Several observers for the opposition Forum for
Justice and Democratic Dialogue (FJDD), a.k.a Medrek,
have left polling stations after midnight yesterday
in many parts of Western Shoa Zone (around Ambo and
Guder areas), Oromia Regional States, without
signing on documents that certify the results of the
elections. However, representatives representing
other opposition candidates, such as EDP, AEUO and
CUD have signed.
Some Oppsition Candidates Withdraw
from Election.
Candidates running under the platform of some opposition parties in
Adama, Wenji, Zeway and Alemgena are withdrawing from
their bid for the regional councils and federal
parliament. Twenty one candidates, representing
EDP, ONC, AEUO and Medrek are leaving the electoral
contest for the reasons that is not clear
yet.Neither the officials of those parties have
given official statement nor why their candidates in
these towns are withdrawing.
Before
tens of millions of registered voters are expected to cast
their votes today, Sunday, May 23, 2010, Election Day, Merga
Bekana, chairman of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia
(NEBE) took time to answer questions from EDEN SAHLE,
FORTUNE STAFF WRITER, about the preparedness of the board
for the voting process and answered questions about the
recent changes made to the rules governing acceptable marks
on voting cards.
Campaigning was sometimes energetic, powerful, but peaceful
Before
Election Day, EDEN SAHLE, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER, sat down
with Thijs Berman, chief of the EU Election Observation
Mission to Ethiopia, and interviewed him about the how the
election campaigns, the electoral board, and his team’s
mission were going as well as what he expected for today,
Sunday, May 23, Election Day.
There are
many highlights on Ethiopia’s most recent macroeconomic achievements that can be
gathered to inform many, particularly the Diaspora and foreign nationals who are
Ethiopian by birth. They may lack the information and providing it may encourage
them to come and invest in their original country, says Eskinder Joseph (meskelm@yahoo.com),
a pioneering businessman in cut flower farms now in the process of engaging in
large scale commercial farming, real estate, and livestock exports.
The 140 billion dollar
support package that the Greek government finally
received from its European Union partners and the
International Monetary Fund gives it the breathing
space needed to undertake the difficult job of
putting its finances in order. The package may or
may not prevent Spain and Portugal from becoming ..
A particular aspect of
the elections today that is different from those of
2005 is the degree of involvement by the
international community represented in Addis Abeba.
"If
I am detained, there are more than 30 million Oromos who can take up the
struggle."
Merera Gudina (PhD), a candidate of the Forum for
Justice Democratic Dialogue (FJDD), a.k.a. Medrek, in the Ambo
constituency of the Oromia Regional State, told The BBC’s Uduak
Amimo, when asked if he was under threat of being prosecuted
after today's national elections, are over. Bereket Simon,
director of the Government Communications Affairs Office,
accused him of inciting violence that was alleged to have caused
the death of a policeman.
Vote of Confidence in EPRDF
The national elections to be held in Addis Abeba
today are different from those across the country.
All but voters in Addis Abeba are to vote for their
preferred candidates both in the regional councils
and the Federal Parliament. Close to 1.2 million
Addis Abebans will, however, cast their votes in
1,713 polling stations to elect 23 representatives
to send to the Federal Parliament, comprising 547...
More
Electoral Punch-
Interesting Next Five Years Lie in Hands of
Voters
Last week, supporters of the
Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
had a rally at Addis Abeba Stadium, which was filled with
young people, who were involved in small and micro
enterprises (SMEs) in Addis Abeba. They were cheering,
shouting...... More
How about campaign
promises such as these, “Vote for us as we will open
10 new FM radio stations all dedicated to hip-hop.
All the English Premier League matches will be
televised free on all of ....
Budget allocated for 2010
election 
