European Union’s election observation team will arrive in the country six weeks before the Ethiopian Election 2020
By Abdurezak Mohammed (The Ethiopian Herald)
ADDIS ABABA – Members of the Ethiopian Parliament held a discussion with the European Union (EU) election observers’ team regarding the upcoming Ethiopian general election (Ethiopian Election 2020), The Ethiopian Herald learned.
On the occasion, Mrs. Shitaye Minale, the deputy House Speaker, said the Ethiopian government has full confidence that the Ethiopian Election 2020 will be held peacefully. Successful election can only be achieved when there is peace and thus, the government is working to maintain peace throughout the country, she added.
“The government is committed to holding a free and fair election, and the experience of the EU’s observance team will be very important for us,” Mr. Tesfaye Daba, Chairperson of the House’s Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee, said for his part. Tesfaye added, the full endorsement of the budget requested by the new Electoral Board is an indication of the government’s commitment to the election’s success.
He also noted that the appointment of Birtukan Mideksa as chairperson of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), Dr. Daniel Bekele as commissioner of Ethiopian Human Rights Commission shows the Ethiopian government’s commitment to democracy.
Loic Defaye, Policy Officer for Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda at the European Union’s External Action Service (EEAS) explained that the team is trying to see the current status of peace and security in the country by traveling to some cities of the country. “Everyone should work responsibly to maintain peace in the country”, he said.
According to Mr. Defaye, the EU’s election observation team will arrive in Ethiopia six weeks before the Ethiopian Election 2020 and they will submit their final report soon after the election.
Source: Ethiopian Press Agency