IFES Election Guide - Country Profile: Ethiopia

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Upcoming Elections

Presidential
October 2013
Parliamentary
2015

Ethiopia
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Region: Africa

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President GIRMA Wolde-Giorgis
Head of Government: Prime Minister HAILEMARIAM Desalegn
Assembly: Ethiopia has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the House of Federation (Yefedereshein Mekir Bete) with 110 seats and the House of People's Representatives (Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete) with 547 seats.

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by indirect vote to serve a 6-year term.
The Prime Minister is elected by parliament.
In the House of Federation (Yefedereshein Mekir Bete) 110 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 5-year terms*. In the House of People's Representatives (Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete) 547 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms.**

* Seats are apportioned to each region in proportion to its number of millions of citizens. Each region (i.e. "Nation, Nationality, or People") has a minimum of one seat. Members are elected to these seats by regional councils. Regional councils may opt to hold direct elections, but none currently does.

** 22 constituencies are reserved to nationally recognized "Nationalities and Peoples."