Campaigning Activities Wind Up Today

13 May 2005

Election campaigning activities by political parties must cease as of 6 a.m. today, Friday 13 May, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia announced.

Ethiopian electoral law stipulates that political parties should stop campaigning 48 hours prior to the opening of polls on Sunday.

“The NEBE urges all contending parties to comply with the moratorium on campaigning and refrain from campaigning through any medium of communication,” said Mekonnen Wondimu, Civic Education Senior Expert with the Board.

Since last February, political parties have been presenting their programmes to the public through unpaid media airtime and newspaper space. They have also been using public rallies and street campaigning to convey their policy platforms to the electorate

The electoral law allows campaigning in all places except churches and mosques, military camps, educational institutions during class time and public institutions where regular work is underway.

More than 25 million voters are registered to take part in Sunday’s elections to the House of Peoples’ Representatives and Regional Councils.

For further information please contact:

Press Officer: Getahun Amogne Tel: 251-9-643738
Assistant Press Officer: Hiwot Alemayehu Tel: 251-9-487576
E-mail us: info@electionsethiopia.org
www.electionsethiopia.org