New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta)

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Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn's Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and its allies won all seats in the House of Peoples' Representatives. Two main opposition groups rejected the election results, arguing that their supporters were harassed. Those groups were Medrek ('Forum', founded in 2008 (see note)) and the Semayawi party ('Blue Party', established in 2012). No international observers monitored the elections. The African Union said the elections were "generally peaceful and calm ". The elections were the first to be held under Prime Minister Desalegn. He succeeded Mr. Meles Zenawi, the long-serving Prime Minister and former President, who died in office in 2012. The EPRDF has been in power since 1991. During the election campaign, the party focused attention on its achievements while in government, citing stability, economic growth and development. The campaigning of opposition parties was reportedly invisible. Medrek used the slogan "I vote for clean hands" while the Semayawi party called for justice and freedom. Note: In the 2010 elections, the EPRDF and its allies took 545 of the 547 seats. Medrek, also known as the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum (FORUM), became the sole voice of opposition represented in the outgoing legislature along with one independent member.