ETHIOPIA'S PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER OUTLINES RECENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000412

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID KDEM ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA'S PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER OUTLINES RECENT
INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS


1. (U) SUMMARY. Ethiopia's Speaker of Parliament, Ambassador
Teshome Toga, outlined for the Ambassadors' Donor Group (ADG)
parliamentary reforms being implemented. Significant reforms
included: the right of the opposition to propose agenda items
and bills without securing a minimum number of sponsors;
monthly questioning of the Prime Minister; and creation of
oversight committees to uphold the new parliamentary reforms.
Teshome said the opposition had yet to either take advantage
of the new reforms or to propose agenda items. It is clear
from Teshome, and our private discussions with the
opposition, that lack of capacity (including lack of staff,
office space, and information on issues under debate) remains
a severe challenge for Parliament. The new reforms are based
on assistance primarily from India, with support from Germany
and the U.K. The ADG proposed a professional research
service, similar to the Congressional Research Service in the
U.S., which could provide all members information, as well as
legal and technical expertise, to allow parliamentarians to
debate issues and propose bills with greater confidence and
deeper insight. END SUMMARY.

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NEW REFORMS
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2. (U) Thirty ambassadors from the ADG met February 7 with
Ethiopia's Parliamentary Speaker on recent reforms
implemented by Parliament. The reforms were developed in
consultation with India, Germany, and the U.K. The Speaker
explained that he had visited India, which served as a
fundamental basis for Ethiopia's reform program. Ambassador
Teshome highlighted several reforms as significantly
enhancing democratic values and protecting the rights of the
opposition. For example, any member of parliament may now
propose a bill for referral to one of thirteen committees for
deliberation. Whereas twenty sponsors had been needed
before, now each Parliamentarian can propose a bill without
sponsorship. In addition, opposition members will be
represented on every committee.


3. (U) Teshome said there would be "opposition day" to allow
opposition members to propose agenda items and determine the
priority of agenda issues to be debated. Thus far, the
Speaker noted, the opposition had not taken advantage of this
new procedure. He noted that when the Prime Minister opens
both houses of Parliament, Parliamentarians may propose
amendments and opinions on the agenda outlined by the Prime
Minister, to be voted on by the Parliament.


4. (U) Parliamentary committees could now question Ministers
weekly, and the Prime Minister monthly, Teshome said.
Members of Parliament were now able to select the Speaker and
Deputy Speaker by direct election, and anyone could run for
those offices.


5. (U) Two new committees will be created. Similar to the
House Ways and Means Committee in the U.S., or to the
Business Committee in India, Ethiopia's Business Committee
will establish the work agenda, set time for debate on bills,
and determine when bills come to the floor for a vote. The
second committee is the Public Accounts Committee, analogous
to an inspector general, which will conduct investigations,
determine whether procedures are being followed, and review
budgets and expenditures.

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NEED FOR CAPACITY-BUILDING
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6. (U) The Speaker noted that the critical challenge facing
the Parliament was resources and capacity-building. For
example, there were 547 members of the Parliament, but few
had any staff aides. While the Speaker had a single aide,
other members worked without assistance. Other problems
included lack of office space for members, and lack of
information to help members make informed decisions on bills
under debate. ADG members suggested establishing a
professional research service (similar to the Congressional
Research Service) to provide members basic information on
issues, as well as provide technical and legal information to

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help members judge the consequences of bills under debate.


7. (SBU) COMMENT: The reforms are significant, making
Parliamentary procedures more open than those prior to the
May 2005 national elections--a request the U.S. and
international community had made to the GOE. But the reforms
need clarification: specifically, how committee membership
will be determined, and the criteria for selecting opposition
members of the committees. In our private conversations with
the opposition leadership, we pressed them to develop a
"vision" of what they stand for, a platform that would
attract support. We noted to them that voters who supported
the opposition in the last election did so in opposition of
the ruling EPRDF, not necessarily out of support for the
opposition. We will work with the opposition, Speaker, and
ruling Parliamentarians during the parliamentary session,
determining how far the new reforms can open and expand a
transparent political dialogue and process. END COMMENT.
YAMAMOTO