2013 Ethiopian presidential election
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The presidential election held on 7 October 2013,[1] was the fourth presidential election of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to elect the country's third president.[2] Mulatu Teshome was elected by the parliament to a six-year term.[1] Incumbent president Girma Wolde-Giorgis was barred from seeking re-election due to term limits.[citation needed]
Background and electoral process
[edit]As a parliamentary republic, most administrative power and the effective ability is vested in the prime minister and his government, rather than the president, leaving the president as primarily a figurehead executive. However, the president retains significant Reserve powers granted by the constitution.[citation needed]
A presidential candidate is required to be elected by a joint session of the upper house and lower house of the Ethiopian parliament, the Federal Parliamentary Assembly, the House of Federation and the House of Peoples' Representatives, respectively.[3][4]
Potential candidates
[edit]Several persons have been the subject of speculation by various media sources as potential candidates in the election. The past two presidents, Negasso Gidada, and Girma Wolde-Giorgis, have hailed from the Oromo ethnic group, the country's largest, and thus it has been speculated that the ruling party, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, will again nominate an Oromo candidate.
Publicly expressed interest
[edit]- Haile Gebrselassie, Olympic long-distance runner and businessman[5][6]
Other potential candidates
[edit]- Abadula Gemeda, speaker of the House of People's Representatives and former Minister of Defense[7]
- Ashebir Woldegiorgis, independent member of parliament and former president of the Ethiopian Football Federation[4]
- Aster Mamo, chief parliamentary whip of the government in the House of People's Representatives[8]
- Berhane Deressa, former Mayor of Addis Ababa[8]
- Bulcha Demeksa, businessman, founder of the Awash International Bank, and former chairman of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement[8]
- Eleni Gabre-Madhin, businesswoman and founder of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange
- Eyesuswork Zafu, President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce[8]
- Genet Zewdie, Ethiopian ambassador to India[8]
- Girma Wake, former chief executive officer of Ethiopian Airlines.[8]
- Hailu Shawul, former chairman of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy
- Kuma Demeksa, former Mayor of Addis Ababa[8]
- Merga Bekana, chairman of the National Elections Board[8]
- Mulu Solomon, former President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce[8]
- Solome Tadesse, General Manager of the Ethiopian Radio and Television Authority[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kussa, Mulugeta (7 October 2013). "Dr. Mulatu Teshome elected new President of Ethiopia". Ertagov.com. Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency. Archived from the original on 10 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ "Ethiopia Election Guide". International Elections Guide. IFES. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Ethiopian president reelected for new six-year-term" Archived 11 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, 9 October 2007.
- ^ a b Tadesse, Kirubel (19 March 2012). "Who could be our next president?". Capital. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ Brown, Oliver (19 June 2013). "Haile Gebrselassie turns sights on Ethopian presidency". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ Renee, Diana (1 August 2012). "Gebrselassie wants to rule athletics and country". Business Day. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Four at Flag Day". Addis Fortune. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Yihunbelay, Bruh; Zenebe, Wudineh (24 August 2013). "Road to the National Palace". The Reporter. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
