Weekly Message

Election is a Bedrock of our Consociational Democracy Building

Among the enduring public questions in Ethiopia’s political history, issues of land, identity, and democracy have consistently occupied a central place. While successive political systems have made efforts—albeit with inherent limitations—to address questions of land ownership, identity recognition, and multiparty politics, the challenge of democracy has remained insufficiently resolved. This shortcoming stems largely from the political culture inherited from the past, as well as from divergent understandings of what democracy entails and how it should be implemented in the Ethiopian context.

Democracy has therefore emerged as one of the most critical issues addressed through the national transformation process launched eight years ago. This process has placed particular emphasis on examining Ethiopia’s democratic deficit and identifying sustainable solutions. Central to this effort is the recognition that, in order to deepen democratic practice and align with countries that have successfully institutionalized democratic systems, Ethiopia must bridge long-standing cultural divides, clarify the meaning of democracy in light of its contemporary realities, and consciously choose a democratic model suited to its social and political conditions. It is within this framework that Consociational Democracy has been carefully selected and progressively implemented.

Consociational Democracy has proven to be a viable option for countries characterized by fragile democratic traditions and societal divisions. Its defining features include inclusive participation, fair representation, and respect for self-rule. Guided by the philosophy of Medemer, the reformist government has sought to advance this democratic model by asking the right questions, in the right way, at the right time, and responding to them through inclusive and pragmatic governance.

The Medemer-led government firmly upholds the view that elections constitute a critical phase in the construction of a Consociational Democracy. While elections are not an end in themselves, they remain an indispensable process and the institutional foundation upon which a consensus-based democratic system is built and sustained. This commitment was demonstrated in practice through the conduct of the Sixth National Election, which was free, fair, participatory, and competitive.

As a result, the expanded political space enabled the participation of numerous competing political parties and ensured broader public representation. Furthermore, the Prosperity Party—having secured a majority mandate—demonstrated its commitment to consensus-oriented democracy by allocating 275 leadership positions across various levels of government, including seven ministerial posts, to opposition parties, thereby enabling their active role in national governance.

This represents a significant milestone in the history of Ethiopian politics and democratic system-building. It also reflects the ideological, institutional, and cultural transformation undertaken by the Medemer government under the leadership of the Prosperity Party to respond credibly to Ethiopia’s long-standing democratic questions.

We firmly believe that the Seventh National Election, scheduled to take place this year, will further consolidate these achievements and elevate Ethiopia’s democratic system-building efforts to a higher level. Recognizing elections as the bedrock of our democratic building, the Prosperity Party reaffirms its unwavering commitment to fulfilling its responsibility in advancing this process in a continuous, inclusive, and sustainable manner.

Prosperity Party
December 29, 2025/Tahisas 20, 2018