Prime Minister Reports to Parliament

Apr 3 , 2023

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) showed up to Parliament last week to present a six-month report. He called for "a new normal" to survive the tectonic aftershock from the changing global order, whose impact he projected to be immense in the next five years. Fuel and fertilizer subsidies added up to 70 billion Br in the period, according to the Prime Minister's presentation while Ethiopia's debt burden both domestic and external combined with inflation, underwhelming productivity and shabby infrastructure were indicated as the biggest hurdles to economic prosperity by the PM. This analysis comes in a week at which  IMF staff visited the country to discuss debt restructuring possibilities. Parliamentarians had voiced concerns over poor performance and lack of equity in public infrastructure, mainly unfinished road projects; pervasive official corruption; inadequate public utility provisions such as electricity and water; and the absence of media accountability. The highlight of the session to most spectators was a suggestion of resignation by Christian Tadelle hurled at the PM. Christian who is part of the National Movement of Amhara (NAMA) told Abiy “the primary source of insecurity for the people is your administration.”