Ethiopian Coalition Heads Toward Rout
The ruling coalition swept toward a new five-year term Monday after what was billed as Ethiopia’s first multi-party general election.
Analysts said initial counts at polling stations in Addis Ababa signaled Sunday’s election was building up to a rout by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front.
“There will be one, all-knowing, omnipotent party running the country for the next five years,” said Nebiyu Samuel, head of the largest opposition party to take part in the election.
However, in an early setback to the ruling coalition, analysts said a preliminary count had a critic of the EPRDF winning a Parliament seat with a big majority.
They said Maj. Adamsu Zeleke, an independent candidate, received about 1,200 votes to 800 for the EPRDF candidate.
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