Ethiopia
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections
Background
Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
21.06.2021 to 30.09.2021
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
07.07.2021
Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Delayed elections
Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
547
Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal
Candidates
Total number of candidates
Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
1,817
Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
1,528
Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
289
Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
15.91%
Number of parties contesting the election
This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
55
Notes
20 parties registered nationwide and 33 parties registered regionally. In addition, there were 2 Fronts (comprising parties which are registered either nationwide or in regions).
Voter turnout
Registration
Number of people registered to vote
38,234,910
Results
About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party (see note 1) won an overwhelming majority, taking 448 seats in the 547-member House of Peoples' Representatives in the delayed elections held amid war in the Tigray region (see note 2). The elections were boycotted by some prominent opposition parties (see note 3). Several other opposition parties, which contested the 2021 elections, including the Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA, led by Mr. Berhanu Nega), complained about the electoral process. The African Union election observer mission described the election as "credible".
The 2021 elections were the first to be held after Mr. Abiy Ahmed assumed the premiership in 2018. Being 41 at the time, he became Africa’s youngest leader. As the country's first ethnic Oromo leader in recent years, Mr. Abiy Ahmed promised reforms and backed the election (by Parliament) of Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde as the country’s new President in October 2018. In 2019 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to resolve the border conflict with Eritrea.
During the election campaign, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ran on the government record, citing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa's largest hydroelectric power plant, which straddles the Blue Nile River on Ethiopia's north-western border with Sudan. The government stated that the GERD was crucial for the development of the country which aimed to become a major power exporter. However, the GERD led to tensions with nearby countries, especially Egypt and Sudan, which also depend on the Nile for fresh water supplies.
Note 1:
In April 2018, Mr. Abiy Ahmed succeeded Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) who had resigned following anti government protests initially led by the country’s largest ethnic group, the Oromo. In November 2019, Mr. Abiy Ahmed dissolved the EPRDF, which had been in power since 1991 and was dominated by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and formed the Prosperity Party in December 2019. The TPLF rejected the Prime Minister’s decision to dissolve the EPRDF and refused to join the Prosperity Party.
Note 2:
In August 2020, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister postponed by 10 months the parliamentary and regional elections initially scheduled for 29 August 2020. Opposition parties accused the government of using the pandemic as an excuse to illegally extend its time in office (which was due to expire in October 2020), an allegation the government denied.
The TPLF held regional elections in the Tigray region on 9 September 2020 and won in a landslide. On 7 October, the House of the Federation (upper chamber comprising members of state assemblies) stated that the federal government should sever all ties with the Tigray regional state assembly. On 4 November, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered the federal forces into Tigray accusing the TPLF of launching an attack to take over the Northern Command of Ethiopia’s military. Although the Prime Minister declared the end of military operations on 29 November, the war in Tigray continued throughout the 2021 elections. Also, some TPLF leaders were arrested. Among them was the former Speaker of the House of the Federation, Ms. Keria Ibrahim who was arrested in December 2020 but released on bail in March 2021. On 1 May, the government designated the TPLF as a “terrorist” organization.
Following the first postponement mentioned above, the 2021 elections were subsequently set for 5 June 2021. However, on 15 May, they were postponed again to 21 June due to security and logistical challenges. The June 2021 elections were held for 436 seats (for the 547-seat House) of which 425 were confirmed. Elections were not held for 111 constituencies (including 38 in Tigray) due to security reasons. Repeated elections for 11 undecided seats and fresh elections for most of the 111 seats were initially announced for 6 September but delayed to 30 September. No date has been set for elections in the Tigray region where the conflict is ongoing.
Note 3:
Several opposition parties announced their boycott in protest of the jailing of their leaders and over other concerns regarding the fairness of the process. Among them were the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC).
The 2021 elections were the first to be held after Mr. Abiy Ahmed assumed the premiership in 2018. Being 41 at the time, he became Africa’s youngest leader. As the country's first ethnic Oromo leader in recent years, Mr. Abiy Ahmed promised reforms and backed the election (by Parliament) of Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde as the country’s new President in October 2018. In 2019 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to resolve the border conflict with Eritrea.
During the election campaign, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ran on the government record, citing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa's largest hydroelectric power plant, which straddles the Blue Nile River on Ethiopia's north-western border with Sudan. The government stated that the GERD was crucial for the development of the country which aimed to become a major power exporter. However, the GERD led to tensions with nearby countries, especially Egypt and Sudan, which also depend on the Nile for fresh water supplies.
Note 1:
In April 2018, Mr. Abiy Ahmed succeeded Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) who had resigned following anti government protests initially led by the country’s largest ethnic group, the Oromo. In November 2019, Mr. Abiy Ahmed dissolved the EPRDF, which had been in power since 1991 and was dominated by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and formed the Prosperity Party in December 2019. The TPLF rejected the Prime Minister’s decision to dissolve the EPRDF and refused to join the Prosperity Party.
Note 2:
In August 2020, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister postponed by 10 months the parliamentary and regional elections initially scheduled for 29 August 2020. Opposition parties accused the government of using the pandemic as an excuse to illegally extend its time in office (which was due to expire in October 2020), an allegation the government denied.
The TPLF held regional elections in the Tigray region on 9 September 2020 and won in a landslide. On 7 October, the House of the Federation (upper chamber comprising members of state assemblies) stated that the federal government should sever all ties with the Tigray regional state assembly. On 4 November, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered the federal forces into Tigray accusing the TPLF of launching an attack to take over the Northern Command of Ethiopia’s military. Although the Prime Minister declared the end of military operations on 29 November, the war in Tigray continued throughout the 2021 elections. Also, some TPLF leaders were arrested. Among them was the former Speaker of the House of the Federation, Ms. Keria Ibrahim who was arrested in December 2020 but released on bail in March 2021. On 1 May, the government designated the TPLF as a “terrorist” organization.
Following the first postponement mentioned above, the 2021 elections were subsequently set for 5 June 2021. However, on 15 May, they were postponed again to 21 June due to security and logistical challenges. The June 2021 elections were held for 436 seats (for the 547-seat House) of which 425 were confirmed. Elections were not held for 111 constituencies (including 38 in Tigray) due to security reasons. Repeated elections for 11 undecided seats and fresh elections for most of the 111 seats were initially announced for 6 September but delayed to 30 September. No date has been set for elections in the Tigray region where the conflict is ongoing.
Note 3:
Several opposition parties announced their boycott in protest of the jailing of their leaders and over other concerns regarding the fairness of the process. Among them were the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC).
Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
5
Percentage of parties winning seats
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
9.09%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
81.9%
Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
Not applicable
Note on the alternation of power
The ruling party changed between elections.
Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
1
Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Prosperity Party
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group | Total | Sep. 2021 |
---|---|---|
Prosperity Party | 448 | 37 |
National Movement of Amhara (NAMA) | 5 | 0 |
Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA) | 8 | 4 |
Gedeo People's Democratic Organization (GEDO) | 4 | 2 |
Kucha People Party | 1 | 1 |
Independents | 4 | 0 |
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
275
Number of women elected
195
Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
35.65%
Note on the Distribution of seats according to sex
Following the June 2021 elections, parliament initially reported 181 women out of 425 members. In January 2022, it updated these figures to 176 women out of 426 members.
In the delayed election held on 30 September 2021, 44 members, including 19 women, were elected. In total, therefore, 195 women were elected out of 470 members.
In the delayed election held on 30 September 2021, 44 members, including 19 women, were elected. In total, therefore, 195 women were elected out of 470 members.
Other notes
Note on parties or coalitions winning seats
The statistics above refer to the total number of seats won by each political party after the elections held in June and September 2021, in which a total of 470 members (426* in June and 44 in September) were elected. As at 13 January 2022, the 77 remaining seats were yet to be filled, pending elections in two regions.
*In January 2022, Parliament updated the number of seats won by the Prosperity Party in June 2021 from 410 to 411, which increased the total number of members elected in June 2021 from 425 to 426.
In September 2021, the Prosperity Party won 37 more seats, thus winning a total of 448 seats. Four members from the Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA) and two members from the Gedeo People's Democratic Organization (GEDO) subsequently joined the Prosperity Party, giving it a total of 454 seats as at 13 January 2022. Consequently, EZEMA held four seats and GEDO held two seats at the same date.
The statistics above refer to the total number of seats won by each political party after the elections held in June and September 2021, in which a total of 470 members (426* in June and 44 in September) were elected. As at 13 January 2022, the 77 remaining seats were yet to be filled, pending elections in two regions.
*In January 2022, Parliament updated the number of seats won by the Prosperity Party in June 2021 from 410 to 411, which increased the total number of members elected in June 2021 from 425 to 426.
In September 2021, the Prosperity Party won 37 more seats, thus winning a total of 448 seats. Four members from the Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA) and two members from the Gedeo People's Democratic Organization (GEDO) subsequently joined the Prosperity Party, giving it a total of 454 seats as at 13 January 2022. Consequently, EZEMA held four seats and GEDO held two seats at the same date.
Sources
House of Peoples' Representatives (25.08.2021, 13.01.2022, 14.01.2022, 15.01.2022, 20.01.2022)
https://www.nebe.org.et/
https://nebe.org.et/en/candidate-list
https://nebe.org.et/sites/default/files/HOPR%20Last%20edition%20_0.JPG
BBC monitoring
BBC
Reuters
https://www.aljazeera.com
https://www.voanews.com
https://www.france24.com
https://www.dw.com/en
https://www.africanews.com/
https://abcnews.go.com
https://www.tesfanews.net/
https://news.cgtn.com/
https://www.nebe.org.et/
https://nebe.org.et/en/candidate-list
https://nebe.org.et/sites/default/files/HOPR%20Last%20edition%20_0.JPG
BBC monitoring
BBC
Reuters
https://www.aljazeera.com
https://www.voanews.com
https://www.france24.com
https://www.dw.com/en
https://www.africanews.com/
https://abcnews.go.com
https://www.tesfanews.net/
https://news.cgtn.com/
Women Directly Elected
195
New legislature
Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
275
Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
195
First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
453
Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
04.10.2021
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature
First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Tagesse
Chaffo
(Male)
Political party
Prosperity Party
Date of election
04.10.2021