A government official has said that a national election campaign for the 2010 national election in Ethiopia will be launched in December 2009.
Bereket Simon, Minister, government communication Affairs Office told journalists that the government is doing its best to make the up coming fourth national election free and democratic as well as transparent.
Accordingly, it was reported that the national election campaign and other related activities will be carried out until the election date, due to be held on May 15.
The result of the election will officially be announced by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) on June 21 next year.
Simon said that as part of this initiative, the ruling party and main opposition parties have reached an agreement this week for electoral code to make the election fair.
The electoral code of conduct, prepared by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), deals with election campaigning, voting and party symbol guidelines as well as the use of state media’s.
“The ruling and the four main opposition parties involved in the negotiation agreed to establish a joint council to settle any dispute that will be arise during the election,” said Simon.
He indicated that the agreement will enable the up coming election to be carried out peacefully and democratically.
The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), All Ethiopian Unity Organization (AEUO), the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP) and the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) were the parties in the discussion.
However, one political party-Forum for Democratic, which demand exclusive dialogue with EPRDF refused to join the on going negotiations among the parties.
International election observes, including the European Union (EU) and other continental and regional bodies will also be invited to observe the election, according to Simon.
Source African Press Agency
