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Elias Meseret, Associated Press
Update
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – An opposition member recently returned from exile has been named as Ethiopia 's chief of elections on Thursday as the country prepares for what the reformist prime minister promises to hold. be "free and fair" elections in 2020.
Birtukan Mideksa, a former judge, is the highest opposition figure in the government's high position in Ethiopia in recent history. She is also the latest of several women appointed to senior positions in the new administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Birtukan is one of the Ethiopians who returned to the country after years of exile, encouraged by the dramatic political reforms announced by Abiy since taking office in April. Abiy chose him to lead the election committee after his recent visit to the United States, during a series of enthusiastic meetings, where he encouraged people frustrated by previous administrations to return home. Legislators approved the choice on Thursday.
"The conduct of a democratic election comes first, followed by victory," Abiy told lawmakers. "The holding of free and fair elections is the cornerstone of a democratic system and we must all stand firm so that the next elections are not rigged."
Birtukan left Ethiopia after years of friction with the previous government. She was arrested shortly after the violent and controversial elections of 2005 that resulted in the deaths of dozens of people. Opposition leaders were imprisoned after accusing the administration of Meles Zenawi of rigging the vote.
She served an 18-month prison sentence before being pardoned in 2007, but was arrested again in 2008 and sentenced to life in prison after officials accused her of having violated the conditions of his grace. She left the country after being released again in 2010 and returned this month.
Also on Thursday, the Prime Minister, in his remarks to legislators, said that the country should build a new city to accommodate all suspects of corruption and rights violations in previous administrations.
Abiy said that "the prison facilities we have here in Ethiopia are not enough to deal with the large number of criminals … we have chosen to focus on the major business and leave the rest to a reconciliation commission. course of incorporation ".
Sixty – three intelligence officers, military and businessmen have been arrested this month for allegations of abuse and corruption.
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