Addis Ababa 05, September 2015 (WIC)- Opposition political parties welcome the summon made by Ethiopian People’s Democratic Revolutionary Front (EPRDF) to work with political parties struggling to get political power in peaceful and constitutional manner following the raping up of the 10th EPRDF Congress held in Mekelle.
The All Ethiopian National Movement (AENM) and the Ethiopian Vision Party (EVP) have accepted the call positively and reassured their readiness to work with the ruling party while that of the Ethiopian Justice and Democratic Forces Front (EJDFF) sees it in a skeptical manner. EJDFF says EPRDF made the call only for lip service while lacking the practical commitment to change it in reality.
AENM and EVP told WIC that the call made by EPRDF is something that needs to be supported and appreciated.
Mesafint Shiferaw, President of AENM, told WIC that EPRDF’s call to work together with the opposition political parties on matters of mutual interest is something that deserves a popular support. Even though EPRDF won the 2015 National Election, its decision to work with us is something encouraging, noted the president.
Mesafint is of the view that working with those parties struggling through peaceful manner is something possible. Though there is no single opposition political party which won the 2015 national election, working together can be effected through the already in place Political Party’s Joint Council, he said. Using this platform one can provide views which are useful to the interest of general public according to him.
“Though the practice of working together on matters of mutual benefit is a previously existing practice it needs to be further strengthened,” argues Mesafint. “Our party is looking to have an independent body which works on good governance issues. We will make our case to the ruling party through the Political Parities Consultative Forum,” he said.
The president of EJDFF, Girmay Hadera, underlined that his party is closely following every information dispatched by EPRDF. He called up on other opposition political parties to take positive steps in consolidating the positive developments attained by EPRDF while at the same time showing its weaknesses as well. He also said that his party is willing to narrow down differences by working together on areas of dissent to bring change in areas of mutual interest.
Girmay says his party is willing to work with the ruling party on matters of national interest and work to strengthen the march toward unity in order to realize continued development. He also underlined the need to take oppositions complaints in to account and take remedial actions on the part of the EPRDF and that of the oppostio0n to present their cases in a transparent and bold manner.
The President of EVP, Teshale Sebro, on his part said in the field of peaceful political struggle one needs to respect and listen to each other in a civilized manner. He told WIC that such a practice needs to be in a democratic culture. “I want to congratulate the EPRDF congress members for the peaceful completion of their meetings,” he remarked.
However, Teshale finds it hard to swallow the fact that the ruling party made the call to work together with those parties which unanimously accepted the 2015 national election result. He said that he is hesitant about EPRDF’s commitment to work with the opposition political parties beyond lip service.