The Quest for Constitutionalizing Political Parties in Ethiopia

Abstract

As  one  of  the most  essential  elements  in  democratic  process,  parties  deserve  proper constitutional  recognition  and protection.  Constitutional  recognition  and  protection  of  parties refers to their acknowledgment as important actors in the democratic process, and the provision of rights and privileges which they would enjoy, and responsibilities which they  would  assume.  Constitutional  recognition  of  political  parties  in  turn  plays  a significant  role  in  creating  a  level  playing  field  for  all  parties  alike  in  the  political competition.  This  article  investigates  the  constitutional  recognition  and  protection  of parties  in  Ethiopia  and  establishes  the  need  to  constitutionalize  them.  To  this  effect, analysis to the relevant literatures and the provisions of the constitution and other related subsidiary laws have  been made. Accordingly, the finding suggests that political parties are notduly recognized  under  the  Constitution  of  the  Federal  Democratic  Republic  of Ethiopia (FDRE). The FDRE Constitution neither has deliberately stipulated the special role  of  parties  in  the  democratic  process,  nor  does  properly  described  their  rights, responsibilities  and  privileges. Such  failure  of  the  Constitution  gives  the  ruling  party greater power to determine the rules of the political game leaving the contesting political parties under its control. This is practically observed in the current scheme of state finance for the contesting parties and airtime allotted to them during election times. Problems in relation to the prevalent undemocratic practices in the internal functioning  of political parties can also be attributed to the non-prescription of the responsibilities of political 
parties in the constitution