The Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute (PSI) this week organized a validation workshop to discuss with stakeholders about preliminary findings of its research about the opinion of the public about constitutional amendment. The research was conducted during the past two years, according to the Institute, and the theme of the study was to assess the public opinion about constitutional amendment.
The current Ethiopian constitution has served the country for the past three decades almost without amendment. But, questions are continued to rise by the political elite to amend the constitution. The first goal of PSI was to assess the feelings and opinions of the people towards the constitution, just know issues entailed in the amendment questions of the public or only the elite class. In addition, it aims, if constitutional amendment is the demand of the public, to identify the basic or articles the public demands to amend the current constitution.
Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute (PSI) conducted an independent survey research about the public opinion on constitutional amendment. The aim was to study the opinion and view of the general public on constitutional amendment.
The Ethiopian constitution remains center of dispute by the political elite. The focus of the study was to identify whether the constitutional amendment demands come only from the political elite or the demand of the society. And, if the demand is societal, to identify the major articles the people need to amend or to be revised.
According to the finding of our research, on disputed articles mainly the ethnic provisions, the majority of the sample population demands constitutional amendment. The study takes 1687 sample population from 41 different nations across the country with random sampling.
It is a research conducted by the institute independently with its own initiative and would be helpful as an input for the future.
Professor Beyene Petros, Director General of Policy Studies Institute (PSI) said during the discussion
The current Ethiopian constitution serves for three decades without amendment, though there are disputed articles among the political elite. The political elite dispute on the constitution has continued. Hence, the research conducted for the past two years were focused on major disputed articles of the constitution, mainly on the ethnic provision articles of the constitution.
From 85 nations of the country, the research takes 41 nations for the study. From the 41 nations, the research takes 1,687 sample populations with random sampling method. According to the findings of the research, almost the majority of the sample population, over 75 percent demands constitutional amendment or substantial revision of the articles.
These include revisiting Article 8 of the constitution, which stipulates ethnic groups as sovereign owners of the nation, as well as aspects such as the working language of the federal government, the national emblem, the administrative boundaries based on ethnicity, and the controversial Article 39/4, which grants ethnic groups the right to self-determination, including the right to secession.
The final draft of the research finding will be released after including the critical comments and inputs from the validation workshop.
Desalegn Amsalu (PhD), Associate Professor, Director of Addis Ababa University Institute of Ethiopian Studies and member of the Research Team
Amendment of the existing Constitution would play a vital role in fostering sustainable peace and development and enabling the 28-year document to catch the current political dynamics. Amending the existing constitution would help to address a range of constraints across the country and to ease the pressing challenges Ethiopia has been encountering.
A constitution is a political document which can be amended based on the level of society’s development, and other current and emerging factors. The current constitution is in place for nearly three decades without amendments and its revision has become the order of the day.
Yayew Getinet (Assistant Professor), Bahir Dar University Political Science and International Studies Lecturer said approached by The Ethiopian herald.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 20 MAY 2023
