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Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front

The Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front, or EPRDF, is the ruling political party of Ethiopia.

It is an alliance of four other groups, including the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front and the Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front. Together they have 472 of the 527 seats in the Council of Peoples' Representatives on the election held on May 2001.

Unlike conventional understanding, it should be noted that all four groups are regional-ethnic parties and were created by the TPLF when it created EPRDF as a so-called coalition party. In reality, members of parliament from these parties consistently vote with TPLF and have no real independence outside the direction of TPLF. In addition the parties enjoy no real support from the regions they are suppose to represent. As a result therefore real power and direction of EPRDF continues to be with members of the TPLF core leadership and more specifically with the Prime Minister.

The opposition in Ethiopia is divided but still exists. Some of these parties include: Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front (ARDUF), Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia (CAFPDE), and the Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition (SEPDC).

Before it became the government in 1991, it was a rebel group, battling the military junta known as the Derg.

Last updated: 06-02-2005 17:59:28
Last updated: 09-12-2005 02:39:13