The Prosperity Party (PP), led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, won roughly 90% [1] of contested seats in Ethiopia's national parliamentary election.
The victory ensures that Abiy Ahmed remains in power for another five-year term [2]. This outcome maintains the current political status quo in a nation continuing to navigate significant security challenges and internal instability.
The election took place on June 1, 2024 [3], with official results announced on Sunday, June 9, 2024 [3]. According to an Election Commission spokesperson, the party's victory accounts for roughly 90 percent of the contested seats [1].
Observers noted that the landslide occurred within a restricted competitive environment. Some reports indicated that the opposition remained divided, and entire regions were excluded from voting [4, 5]. These factors limited the extent of real competition during the electoral process.
Prior to the announcement, analysts had predicted a decisive outcome. An analyst for Deutsche Welle said Ethiopia's ruling Prosperity Party was set for a decisive election win when results were announced [4]. Similarly, a Yahoo News reporter said Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party was expected to secure a landslide victory [6].
Despite the exclusion of certain areas, some reports described the election as generally peaceful [5]. However, the lack of broad participation from all regions means the results reflect only a portion of the national landscape.
“The party's victory accounts for roughly 90 percent of the contested seats.”
The landslide victory for the Prosperity Party solidifies Abiy Ahmed's control over the Ethiopian government, but the exclusion of specific regions and a fragmented opposition suggest that the election may not provide a comprehensive mandate. By securing a dominant majority of seats, the ruling party can push its legislative agenda without significant parliamentary resistance, though the underlying security issues and regional grievances that led to the voting exclusions remain unresolved.
