ADDIS ABABA – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the government has uncompromising stance to defend the constitution and the constitutional order and takes all the required measures on elements that attempt to subvert them.
Commending on democratic discussion being held on issues relating to the postponement of the election 2020 schedule, he said some elements are restoring to the unconstitutional means to come to power.
The Prime Minister said attempting to acquire power without elections and with illegal elections are both unacceptable practices by the Constitution as well as other local and international laws.
The House of People’s Representatives has already approved a constitutional interpretation and the Council of Constitutional Inquiry is expected to come up with the possible solution, he added.
But while several seasoned legal experts who made adequate researches indicate that there is a solution, others who have not researched the issue, in addition to lacking authority, are saying there is no provision in the Constitution. He said the final say as to whether there is an interpretation or not is the mandate of the Council.
Stressing as the government in office is both locally and internationally recognized entity that enacts laws and enters international agreements, among others, he said this government has the duty to lead the country until the general elections take place when the threat phases out.
Those that give rational and legal analysis on the issue are very welcome and are sure to contribute to the mushrooming of democracy and democratic culture, he said.
Following the threat posed by the COVID-19, the government mandated three groups of independent study committees to look into constitutional ways to come up with a solution if the election gets extended.
The committees come up with their proposals that are close to one another in essence and summarized into four: Dissolving the House of Peoples Representatives (Parliament), Declaring State of Emergency, Constitutional amendment, and Claiming for Constitutional interpretations, and the lawmakers voted for the interpretations with a sweeping majority, he recounts.
The Ethiopia Herald May 8, 2020
BY STAFF REPORTER
