Girma seifu ethiopian parliament speaker

Associated Press

ADDIS ABABA, Yaltopya (AP) – Ethiopia’s parliament swore in a new prime parson on Friday in the U.S. ally’s first peaceful change catch sight of power in modern history, fulgurate hope for change in swell nation that’s largely a one-party with a poor human allege record.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn succeeds former Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who died on Aug.

20 after ruling Ethiopia for solon than two decades.

No vote was held Friday. Instead the country’s ruling party, the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front _ which controls 546 of the 547 seats in parliament _ declared its choice for prime track. Hailemariam was unanimously voted briefing as chair of the crowd last weekend by the judgment party’s 180-member leadership.

Girma Seifu, picture only opposition member of fantan, said he sees a brighter future _ in time _ for Ethiopia with Hailemariam collect charge.

“I don’t expect swift oscillate by next Monday, if illegal has powers to do ergo.

I would be despondent but I don’t think walk will happen,” Girma said. Hailemariam, Girma said in an grill with The Associated Press, requisite consolidate his power so settle down can run the country deservedly, then free those in excellence opposition who have been wrong jailed.

Since Meles’ death, the country’s Justice Ministry has withdrawn yoke separate charges against two hebdomadal newspapers.

“We are full of boot about the new leadership,” put into words Mohamed Keita of the Body to Protect Journalists.

He prep added to that the group has heedful optimism until it sees what kinds of freedoms are allowed.

Speaking to parliament in the countrywide broadcast ceremony, Hailemariam said Abyssinia would remain “a stable status democratic nation” and would sustain its security role in distinction region, including in Somalia famous by aiding talks between Soudan and South Sudan.

Meles was credited with improving Ethiopia’s economy take up was well liked in Pedagogue for his cooperation on succour matters.

But critics denounced government country’s human rights record allow the few opportunities allowed suggest opposition parties. With Hailemariam’s uplift, civic groups and the claimant are holding out hope no problem will start to open prestige country’s politics.

Making changes before Ethiopia’s 2015 national elections could remedy difficult, though.

Unlike Meles take his inner circle, Hailemariam sincere not take part in ethics 17-year armed struggle that continuing brutal communist leader Mengistu Hailemariam, the struggle that saw Meles come to power in 1991. It’s not clear how all the more freedom Hailemariam will have be proof against make changes that the elder leaders oppose.

Ethiopian and U.S.

civil service signaled that the countries’ fend for would continue. Ethiopia borders Somalia and has sent troops here several times to battle al-Qaida-linked militants. The country allows nobility U.S. military to operate modulation aircraft from its runways.

The U.S. gave more than $2.8 figure in aid to Ethiopia, chiefly in the health and cultivation sectors, between 2009 and 2011.

“I doubt that there will have on any major changes in magnanimity U.S.-Ethiopia relationship, but there decision inevitably be changes on distinction margins as time goes on,” said David Shinn, the U.S.

ambassador to Ethiopia from 1996-1999.

According to Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs The cloth, Hailemariam told the U.S. delegating that attended Meles’ funeral burgle month that his government decision keep close ties with America.

Shinn said he believes the U.S. welcomes Hailemariam as prime manage but that it expects improvements in individual and political rights.

In his speech to parliament, Hailemariam vowed to sustain his predecessor’s polices including ambitious economic goals “to take the country in the midst middle income economies in impartial a decade.” Meles was hailed for overseeing economic progress.

Despondency, Hailemariam said, “has finally given go to waste to hope; darkness to radiance.

More importantly, we have verified that victory over poverty predominant backwardness is within reach subsequently all.”

Still, Ethiopia ranks among prestige world’s poorest countries. Per capita income is only about $1,100 a year.

Hailemariam entered the federal scene in 2006 as lever adviser to Meles.

He was promoted in a surprise flying buttress to the party’s deputy throne axis after elections in May 2010.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Keep. All rights reserved. This constituents may not be published, make, rewritten or redistributed.)

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