Abiy Ahmed's party wins Ethiopian election by a wide margin

Ethiopia's ruling Prosperity Party (PP) has secured a decisive victory in the country's parliamentary elections, winning 438 out of 501 available seats. The National Electoral Board announced the results, which indicated a high voter turnout of 94 percent, with approximately 40 million citizens participating in the June 1 election. The PP had entered the race as the clear favorite, with opposition parties anticipating limited success.

This outcome follows a similar trend from the 2021 elections, where Abiy Ahmed's party also achieved a dominant win, securing 96 percent of the seats. This year's vote took place in 501 of the 547 constituencies, with 54 million eligible voters registered. However, the election process was not without disruptions; 143 polling stations remained closed on election day due to security concerns, and voting was interrupted in several locations within the Amhara and Oromia regions.

While over 40 parties contested the election, many lacked the resources for effective campaigning. The PP fielded 461 candidates, significantly outnumbering the main opposition party, Ezema, which presented only 293 candidates. In 64 constituencies, the ruling party ran unopposed.

Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018 with a pledge to democratize the nation of 130 million people. He released imprisoned opposition members and unexpectedly eased tensions with neighboring Eritrea, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. However, his leadership style has increasingly been characterized by repression, drawing international criticism despite his initial reformist agenda.