Ethiopia’s Electoral Code of Conduct: Expression of Historic Agreement between Rival Political Parties

Several interpretations have been given as to what exactly the term democracy refers to. The most accepted definition however relates to governance that is essentially formed by the people and to the people.

A country that needs to establish democratic system has to accomplish several things towards realizing that dream.  One core issue that must not be underestimated in this regard is that the democratic principles have to be also implemented according to the specific cultural, economic and political realities of that country.

There is no doubt that election in a democratic society is a means to establish a government of the public choice. In other words, it is only democratic elections that truly empower the peoples to establish a government that they believe would serve their interests best. Democratic elections are also essentially characterized by a conducive environment wherein several alternatives are presented by rival groups or individuals so that citizens would have real chance to choose from. A major condusive environment in this regard is the prevalence of a level play field wherein all political parties freely and equally convey their alternatives to the public. And needless to say that the political parties under such freedom must act responsibly and make utmost care particularly in their efforts to reach the wider public with their policies and programs, lest their speeches would affect the morals of the society, incite multinational and religious conflicts etc. Hatred and irresponsible speeches as has been witnessed in the post Elections 2005 would often lead to detrimental consequences.

 It is really in view of this fact that one would appreciate the vitality of the proclamation on the electoral code of conduct, which sprang out as the consent of political parties that compete in the elections of Ethiopia.

First of all, one would appreciate the way the electoral code of conduct was initially drafted by the political parties themselves before it was legislated.  It is also important to notice how the draft code which the political parties deliberated on meets international standards right from the outset since it was a translated version of a document originally produced by the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).

The parties that started the dialogue at the initial stage were five, namely EPRDF, Kinjit, EDP, AEUO and Medrek. But, Medrek quickly walked out of the dialogue and refused later to join back despite repetitive calls made by the negotiating parties. Thus, the other four parties, namely the EPRDF, Kinjit, EDP and AEUO had to continue the dialogue, which they did from Nehasie 25 to Tikimt 17, 2001, the day when they finally reached on agreement on the contents of the electoral code of conduct along with its implementing guidelines.

In fact, the historic value attached to that agreement was best explained by the leaders of the signatories at the ceremony held at the conclusion of their historic dialogue, which had also been attended by some members of the diplomatic community in Addis.

Honorable Meles Zenawi, Chairperson of the EPRDF, who is also Prime Minister of FDRE, described the agreement as a great achievement “that compels opposition parties to confine their electoral activities to peaceful and legal manner while it compels the ruling party facilitate a level play field and enabling competition ground for the oppositions. Thus, what we have endorsed is a code of conduct that compels both the ruling and the opposition parties to execute elections of democratic standards. That is why it is a major achievement.” Meles also expressed hope that “the spirit that prevailed all along the dialogue will not only uphold in the future but also prevails itself to non-attending political parties to have their share from.”

Honorable Ayele Chamiso, Chairperson of Kinijit said, “ While the dialogue was completed with mutual trust and responsibility, free from hatred of any sort as well as held on the principle of give and take, we have crafted the document, through such a successful dialogue, that is inclusive of all our stands and beliefs. This is a historic process in which various political parties in our country jointly discussed, negotiated and adopted the code in a common voice for the first time and hence it is our belief that it will set an exemplary to Africa and to the world.”

Honourable Lidetu Ayalew, Chairperson of EDP said, “What we have finally discovered at this stage after passing through the negotiating process is that politics of hatred, disengagement and in general zero-sum game has been culminating in Ethiopia.”

Engineer Hailu Shawl, Chairperson of AEUO on his part said, “We, leaders and members in the AEUO will not only demonstrate implementation of this code to the Ethiopian people but also stand steadfastly to its execution.”

Thus, it was after the four parties demonstrated their support to the draft code in such a way that they also jointly agreed draft be legislated. Then 65 political parties legally operating in the country took the floor to debate on the draft code prepared by the four major political parties. The parties were invited by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) with the objective of giving them a chance to make amendments if they have any before its legislation. Medrek for the third time walked out of that inter-party dialogue which was taking place in the hall of the NEBE.

The first thing that the 65 political parties had to do in that dialogue was giving the chair and coordination role to the NEBE on the ground that it is a non-partisan and independent institution. Thus, the Board, which accepted invitation, was proven successful in discharging the role entrusted to it.

The 65 political parties then started their engagement by reviewing the document produced by the four political parties and ultimately accepting it as a draft code of conduct to deliberate on. As the outcome of their dialogue, the 65 political parties have managed to make 10 amendments, add two new sub-articles and an idea that would be included in the implementation guidelines before they ultimately endorsed the document as a draft code of conduct with unanimous vote on Hdar 02, 2002. The political parties have also agreed that the draft document, as unanimously accepted code of conduct be legislated by the House of Peoples’ Representatives. That was really a remarkable achievement in terms of strengthening democratic system in the country.

Finally, the draft code was endorsed in a proclamation by the House of Peoples’ Representatives after examining the draft’s compatibility to other national and international laws. The issuance of the political parties’ electoral code of conduct proclamation number 662/2002, is believed to have played an irreplaceable role in ensuring that next elections, not only the up-coming one  but also several others that are to follow then after, become more free, fair, peaceful and legitimate to the peoples of Ethiopia. The compulsion made on all the political parties, be signatories or otherwise, to act within that legal framework will certainly improve the qualities of elections that this country would have to see.

Given the experiences the country has from its past elections, the elections to come in the future will certainly be guided agreed upon codes of conducts and hence perhaps characterized by more qualitative changes that necessarily make them free, fair, peaceful, legal, democratic and legitimate elections in the country.

On the other hand, the code will have a great significance in consolidating further the sovereign power of the Ethiopian peoples in initiating, owning and controlling power, as well as the full respect of human and democratic rights, which the peoples have been enjoying ever-since their age-old struggle bear fruits barely a couple of decades ago.

The political parties are expected to work together and resolve their differences through their peaceful way they all crafted and be ready to accept results of elections carried out in a free, fair, democratic manner as the sole decision of the peoples and scale up their contribution further in consolidating the democratic process underway in the country. In this regard, the proclamation of the electoral code of conduct would ensure fair competition among political parties in their search for state power, free from hatred and suspicions and rather be founded on healthy relations and in general setting exemplary peaceful and democratic elections to Africa. That is why, all the political parties and their members and supporters are expected to contribute their share in implementing the code.

There is no doubt some complaints might be encountered in the pre-, -post and during electoral process. Such a situation is unavoidable even in robust democracies; leave alone in an emerging democracy like Ethiopia.

However, the establishment of a system which empowers the contending  political parties resolve their own complaints through a joint forum of  mutual understanding and peaceful engagement as per the provisions in the proclamation of the electoral code is yet another major achievement worth mentioning. Thanks to the new proclamation of the code of conduct, political parties have a joint forum of various strata across the nation. For example, at the middle of April, there were 110 joint forums  at the constituency level established by contending political parties in the Southern NNNRS while there were  129 in the Amhara NRS as much as the number of constituencies in Addis Ababa City. There is no doubt that the establishment of these  joint forum will be vital in resolving complaints of  the political parties by  themselves through peaceful consultations and which in turn will be vital in upholding free, fair, democratic and legitimate elections across the land. The joint forums will not only serve as a venue of consultations but also of controlling mechanism. While the political parties are still multiplying the number of their joint forums operating across the country to the lowest electoral strata, the achievements made by the forums in the run up to the coming elections has so far been quite remarkable.

The inter-party political debate which is underway in a civilized manner more than ever in line with the proclamation of the electoral code of conduct has successfully deterred hatred and inciting speeches. In the mean time, the political debate has created a room wherein distinctive alternatives proposed by political parties would let the public have informed decisions in exercising its sovereign power.

What we explained above and several other achievements we have witnessed so far in the run up to the coming elections, have generally boosted our belief that the up-coming elections would set an exemplary to other similar events to come then after would uphold such important issues as peace, democracy and legitimacy at their heart. It is also our belief that the elections would set an exemplary to the rest of Africa and improve the image of the country the way our athletes are doing at the international level as long as heads of all political parties relentlessly strive to implement the code of conduct and make sure that their members and supporters do same.