ETHIOPIA: PM APPOINTS ADDIS ABABA CARETAKER

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 001319

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF DAS YAMAMOTO AND AF/E

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI KDEM PHUM ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: PM APPOINTS ADDIS ABABA CARETAKER
GOVERNMENT, CUDP WALKS OUT

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 00839


B. ADDIS ABABA 01160


1. SUMMARY: In a May 10 address to parliament, Ethiopian
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi commended the efforts of some
CUDP electees to take over administration of the city of
Addis Ababa. Citing the inability of the electees to achieve
the required quorum, however, Meles spoke of the need to
appoint a caretaker government for the city. Meles named
former World Bank official Berhanu Deressa as mayor and a
credible team of eight technocrats and a city manager to back
him up. Meles announced the transfer of responsibility for
day-to-day security in the capital to the federal level. The
PM reiterated the government's intention to hold re-run
elections for the city government in one year. Opposition
parties generally responded negatively to Prime Minister's
plan, though some voted in favor it. Members of the
reconstituted CUDP voiced their displeasure and then walked
out of the parliamentary session in protest. END SUMMARY.


2. In his statement to parliament, Meles said the government
believed Addis Ababa should be administered by its elected
leaders and stated that the Coalition for Unity and Democracy
Party's (CUDP) attempt to take over the city, despite
harassment and intimidation from within their own ranks, was
commendable and worthy of respect. However, the opposition's
and National Electoral Board's (NEB) efforts to convince a
sufficient number of elected officials to take over the
administration of the city was not successful, even after
extending the deadline several times. As previously decided
by parliament (ref A),the Prime Minister said the only other
option was to conduct another election within one year and
appoint a caretaker government. Meles explained that while
the caretaker government would retain most of its authority
spelled out by the city charter, such as appointing
local-level officials and handling budget and taxes issues,
authority over Addis Ababa's police and security forces would
be transferred to the federal government temporarily.


3. Following Meles' announcement of the caretaker government,
opposition MPs took to the floor. The newly-formed CUDP (ref
B) called the appointment of a caretaker administration a
defeat for democracy and blamed the GOE for their party's
failure to muster quorum, charging that the detention of CUDP
leaders, including mayor-elect Berhanu Nega, was unwarranted
and divisive. They called for resolving political problems
through dialogue, and stated that they did not want to be
part of the process (of appointing a caretaker
administration) and walked out of the parliamentary session
in protest. CUDP Whip Temesgen Zewdie later called the walk
out "symbolic" and clarified that the CUDP intended to remain
engaged in parliament. Parliament approved the appointment
of the caretaker government with 300 votes in favor, 54
against, and 8 abstentions.


4. Caretaker administration appointees:

MAYOR
--------------
Berhanu Deressa

MEMBERS OF THE CABINET
--------------
Alemnesh Woldeberhan
Yitbarek Beferdu
Muluneh Wordofa
Sherif Keri
Hagos Hailu
Berhanu Woldetensae
Misganaw Argaw
Bekele Fula

CITY MANAGER
--------------
Wubshet Berhanu
HUDDLESTON