Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party (PP), led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has secured a sweeping victory in the country’s legislative elections, winning the vast majority of seats in polls held on June 1, according to results announced by the National Elections Board.
The party captured 438 out of 486 seats in the House of Peoples’ Representatives, giving it nearly 90 percent control of the chamber, based on an AFP tally of the declared results.
The election commission said voting took place in 501 of 547 constituencies nationwide, with around 40 million citizens casting ballots out of 54 million registered voters.
However, the electoral process was marked by significant disruptions in several regions, with authorities confirming that 143 polling stations were unable to open due to security challenges.
Voting was also interrupted in parts of Amhara and Oromia, where ongoing armed conflicts involving local militias and rebel groups continued to affect stability.
In northern Tigray, elections were not held at all as the region continues to recover from the devastating 2020–2022 conflict that left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced many more, amid ongoing tensions between regional and federal authorities.
Security concerns also prevented voting in eight constituencies in Amhara, where armed groups opposed to federal forces reportedly sought to disrupt the electoral process.
Election observers and conflict monitors reported clashes on polling day, with multiple incidents recorded between armed groups and security forces in affected regions.
Despite competition from more than 40 political parties, the Prosperity Party remained the dominant force, benefiting from stronger organisation and broader national reach, while opposition parties struggled with limited resources and uneven participation across constituencies.
Under Ethiopia’s political system, members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives elect the prime minister, with the next leadership vote expected between late September and October.
The election outcome further consolidates the ruling party’s grip on power, even as concerns persist over political inclusiveness, regional instability, and the impact of ongoing security challenges on democratic participation.
