Ethiopia will hold its postponed general elections within the next one year following the East African country’s parliament approval.
The House of Peoples’ Representatives approved a resolution which recommends conducting the sixth national elections, re-opening of schools, undertaking of sport games as well as celebrating public holidays.
The general elections were postponed indefinitely due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
But after the Ethiopian Parliament’s resolution on Tuesday, the elections is expected to be held before September 2021.
Ethiopia’s year began on 11 September.
Parliament passed the resolution during an extraordinary session on Tuesday. One MP voted against the resolution and eight abstained.
Ethiopia has extended the date for its parliamentary elections twice already, first due to threats of violence and instability and then because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The northern region of Tigray went ahead to hold elections that were deemed “null and void” by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s federal government.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) won over 98% of the vote in the regional elections.
Its leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, termed the election as “historic” and a determination of the fate of the region.
He said Tigray was enjoying some calm for standing its ground and holding the election.
Meanwhile, the parliament on Tuesday also approved the appointment of several key ministers and judicial officers.
The House of Peoples’ Representatives, the lower chamber of Ethiopia’s parliament, endorsed the appointments of Kenea Yadeta as defense minister, Gedion Timothewos as attorney general, Takele Umma as minister of mines and petroleum, and Samuel Hurkato as minister of science and higher education minister.
Lawmakers approved the candidates, nominated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last month, with a majority vote during an emergency session.
They also greenlit the appointment of 40 judges to the Federal High Court and 50 judges to the Federal First Instance Court, according to local broadcaster Fana.