The woyanne-controled Election Board released latest results

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 26, 2005 (AP) -- Official election results counted for more than three-quarters of the seats in parliament show Ethiopia's ruling party and its allies are 11 seats short of the majority needed to form government, a senior election official said Tuesday.

The uncontested results of 435 seats of the 547-member lower house of the legislature gave 242 seats to the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front while smaller, allied political parties have 22 seats, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity since the results have yet been officially released.

The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front and its allies need at least 274 seats to form Ethiopia's next government.

Ethiopia's main opposition group, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, has won 108 seats while another opposition group, the United Ethiopian Democratic Front, has won 50, the official said.

Results could be announced later Tuesday, the official said.

The parliamentary poll held in May was followed by a large number of complaints of electoral fraud and discrepancies by both the ruling party and opposition groups, which led to protests last month in the capital, Addis Ababa.

Police fired on demonstrators, killing at least 36 of them.

Results for the remaining seats have been delayed pending fraud investigations and reruns of votes after complaints.

ABE!

WHY DON'T YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH TILL ALL OF US SEE THE FINAL RESULT?

Woyane is not short of majority by 11 seats to form the next government because there are at least 112 seats (15 seats of re-election, 74 seats under investigation and 23 seats from Somali region's election)yet to be contested shortly.

If we follow the pattern and nature of the 74 seats under investigation, the outcome might be that at most a dozen seats will be set for re-election, around two dozen seats will be rejected (retained to EPRDF) and the remaining (around 38) seats will be shared among the contending parties of which EPRDF may gain another couple of dozen seats. Subtotaling, EPRDF can gain around 48 seats.

Out of the 27 seats of re-election (already announced 15 re-election seats plus the dozen seats forcasted above for re-election in next announcement) EPRDF has a lower chace of winning. Eventhought, taking the worst outcome, EPRDF may win at least half a dozen seats.

All in all, EPRDF has a chance of gaining at least around 54 seats or, at best, even as high as in the seventies. This is not improbable as EPRDF has already snatched 88 out of 128 seats.

Thus, I can safely say that EPRDF has a big chance of easily snatching 33 more seats it needs to form the next government out of the above 112 seats mentioned.

Without the need of any help from allies or coalition EPRDF will be able to form the next government. And for its bold control of the parliament, EPRDF will greatly exploite its amicable relationships with the dominant contending parties in the Somali region.

To my best guess EPRDF will be in the vicinity of 300+ seats and Allies bragging with 30+ seats. EPRDF will end up controlling well above, if not exactly, the magic 333 seats (well beyond the 274 seats). The opposition ends up enjoying its near 200 seats and independents sun-bathing with at most 20 seats.

Next government may not make it on the formal inaguration dates but, for sure, before the end of 2005. Such delay harms more the new comers to the parlament than to EPRDF. In fact, it will give EPRDF a little more free ride beyond the exact 5-year term.

Simply said, EPRDF will prevail for the next term, of course, with less dissent and stronger opposition voices than ever. That is what all about democracy!!

If you got this hard to buy you realy NEED HELP!

Email: Nsemay@yahoo.com

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