Parliament Endorses Electoral Law Change Tying Party Support to Member Contributions

Jul 22 , 2025

Federal legislators have ratified a contentious amendment to the Ethiopian Electoral, Political Parties' Registration, and Elections Code of Conduct Proclamation, revising the criteria political parties must meet to access government funding. The revised proclamation requires political parties to secure at least 20pc of their income from membership contributions in order to qualify for government grants. The clause passed with a majority vote in parliament, with two votes against and four abstentions, following a heated debate over its implications. Among members of parliament, concerns were raised that the new condition would disproportionately benefit the ruling party, making it harder for opposition groups to meet eligibility requirements. Despite pushback, the amendment was adopted with limited resistance. The original 2019 proclamation tied state support to a broader set of indicators, including electoral performance at both federal and state levels, financial backing from members and supporters, and the number of female candidates a party fielded. Other considerations included the proportion of women in leadership roles and the inclusion of candidates with disabilities. The latest revision maintains these criteria but adds a fixed threshold parties must now demonstrate that 20pc of their revenue originates directly from members, reinforcing the link between internal grassroots engagement and public funding eligibility.