Ethiopia between "Election Events": The Impact of the 2005 and 2010 Pre-election Politics on Competitive Elections
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Date
2010-06
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A.A.U
Abstract
The per-electoral period of 2005 was a historic opening of democratic space in Ethiopia. Despite
continuing obstacles, the country had benefited from the ruling party's desire for a' flawless '
election that would show Ethiopia's democratic progress. The incumbent for the first time had to
face a democratic challenge. However, its fruit had a bitter taste. In the after math of the election,
the major opposition ' irresponsibility' discarded the Verdict of the public. On the other hand, the
'rigid' political behavior of the ruling party had led to a political deadlock. In 2008, the
government expanded its full control over the local administration . Surprisingly enough, it
ensured a total monopoly over the federal parliament in the current election 2010; a situation that
remind us the last decade of the 20 th century. In between the ' election events ', repressive laws
were enacted that curtailed the political space. This coup led by political intimidation against the
'neutralize d ' opposition, the per-election period of the 2010 election became gloomy. The study
argues that there is the tendency of a return to ' authoritarianism' in the country. The research
reviewed the weakness and the strengths that the 2005 election had, and its impact on the 2010
per-election process . it also tries to assess the situation and major activities carried out in
Between the Election Events ' that help to caste light on the political direction to which the
country is moving.
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Keywords
Election Events, Election Politics