Election results: civility triumphs over rejectionism
Another chapter in Ethiopia’s renaissance has opened with the successful conclusion of the elections two weeks ago. With provisional results from virtually all districts now declared by the NEBE, the voters have spoken very loud and clear as to which party they want to see in power for the coming five years. Most importantly, the peaceful and calm manner in which the election was conducted was a testament to the growing institutionalization of the democratic process in the country. This should be a source of pride and joy for all stakeholders well aware of the significance of the electoral process in further cementing democratic governance and in ensuring rapid economic development. The conduct of the elections received a good deal of praise from both international and domestic observers. Most agreed the elections were free and fair and reflected the true will of Ethiopians. Even the most critical of the observer mission reports made numerous laudatory remarks about key aspects of the electoral process and the manner in which the election was conducted. Not only was the level of participation impressive, the various institutions that were tasked with the running of the election, notably, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, were found to be competent and well-organized. To the extent that there were any irregularities, there was little or nothing to affect the validity and integrity of the entire process.
The election’s successful and peaceful conclusion clearly demonstrated that Ethiopians have indeed taken their political governance into their own hands. Mass rallies in various areas after the election demonstrated that the peoples of Ethiopia were insistent that their votes, their ownership of the process, should be fully respected. Their commitment to the strengthening of democracy has been clearly displayed in the vehement rejection of any pre- or post-election undemocratic tendencies and the kind of violent behaviour manifested in 2005. In this regard, there were a number of incidents in which supporters of opposition parties which have sometimes been predisposed to violent tactics, assisted security forces in foiling bomb plots, even putting their own lives at risk despite also voting against the incumbent. Far from subscribing to violence, thousands of opposition supporters were willing to cooperate with security officials in ensuring peaceful elections.
The behaviour of most key stakeholders, the political parties themselves, was another indicator of the level of maturity that the democratization process has reached. Even many parties, whose respect for the rules of the game was previously no more than lukewarm, displayed commendable behaviour. Indeed, the great majority of opposition political parties demonstrated a real cooperative spirit both during and after the campaign. Their commitment and willingness to refer complaints to the joint party councils established under the code of conduct agreed upon by the parties represented a marked departure from previous acrimonious recriminations. This has been a significant contribution to the overall conduct of the election and will further enhance the democratic process.
In this connection, the recent declaration by more than 14 political parties conceding defeat and their message of felicitations to the winning party was a further indication of respect for the voters. They have shown the magnanimity to be expected of any party genuinely committed to the ideals of the democratic process, focusing more on the process than on the outcome. And democracy is about process, not about outcome.