ADDIS ABABA – National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said it is working to address Competing political parties’ complaints on criteria of funding allocation for the upcoming national general elections.
NEBE’s Communication Advisor Soliana Shimeles told The Ethiopian Herald that opposition political parties used to raise similar complaints on the allocation of subsidies which the board has given due attention “The main source of their complaints was related to the criteria for the allocation of funding.”
The allotment criterion is now being revised per the amended Electoral Law of Ethiopia that governs the general elections, she said, adding that the board has full conviction that the revision of the criteria would address the complaints. “This year, we didn’t give any financial support for political parties”, she noted.
She reiterated that the amended electoral law stipulates issues related to criteria for allotment of subsidies. The process of funding political parties will begin based on the amended electoral law. She further stated that NEBE demanded 3.7 billion ETB for the upcoming election, but only 2.7 billion ETB was approved by the government and the remaining one billion ETB will be covered by the support of different institutions (countries) like UNDP, EU, and USAID.
So far, three organizations and some countries are providing support and have pledged to support the board. Some of the donors directly fund the board while others provide support to civic societies, according to Soliana.
The Ethiopian Herald, September 6/2019
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
