. Just before that, a strong opposition voice, Desalegn Chanie (PhD), stood up to "testify before history." Read.){kind=link}
By Staff Writer
NAIROBI, Kenya – A ruling-party member, Mohammed Ahmed, stood up and asked the Chamber to rise in support of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD).Just before that, a strong opposition voice, Desalegn Chanie (PhD), stood up to “testify before history.”
Today in Parliament, two different pictures of Ethiopia were shown. Federal lawmakers were listening to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s (PhD) report about the end of this legislative session. One picture showed a country seen as a model for city development and environmental goals. The other showed a country fighting within itself and struggling with debt.
Mohammed, a member from the governing Prosperity Party, praised the Prime Minister’s leadership and asked his colleagues to stand and applaud.
This action marked a series of loyal speeches during the session. These included praise for the Green Legacy tree-planting campaign, efforts to build urban areas, growth in tourism and farming, and an increase in foreign investments, which the government allies saw as signs of change.
Desalegn, a vocal opposition member, thanked the Prime Minister but then criticized the report, saying he planned to “testify before history about the government’s weaknesses.” He accused the ruling party of passing laws while preventing people from speaking out and limiting political choices.
He viewed the past five years not as a time of success, but as a “chapter of tragedy.”
He said wars and drone attacks had affected regions like Amhara, Oromia, Gambella, and Benishangul-Gumuz, causing many to lose their homes, damaging religious buildings, and deepening political divides.
He called for an end to fighting in Amhara and Oromia and asked the government if real national talks and justice efforts were happening.
His strongest criticism was about the numbers.
He said the government’s report was based on “manipulated data,” claiming 1.5 trillion Br in revenue and 11 billion dollars in exports and money sent from abroad.But he said the real situation told a different story.
Desalegn pointed out a 379 billion Br budget gap, high food prices, a middle class moving into poverty, and a budget where 90% of money was spent on ongoing costs and paying off debt.
He asked how the government would fund a 1.13 trillion Br budget and whether working with the IMF and World Bank would bring real change or just make the country’s debt situation worse.
He called the education system a “generational catastrophe.” Despite a 26 billion Br budget, only about 50,000 out of 900,000 students passed the Grade 12 exam, meaning a 90% failure rate.Also, seven million children were not in school at all.He warned that 27 million people now rely on food aid.
The conversation showed the reality of Parliament over the past five years, where the Prosperity Party’s rule has left little room for disagreement.
A few opposition members could list many problems without getting much applause from the chamber.However, the issues ran deeper than just the government versus the opposition.
Even loyal supporters admitted to problems like the high cost of living, corruption, and the loss of peace.
They mentioned youth unemployment, poor infrastructure in Benishangul-Gumuz, and a shortage of housing in cities that high rents have made a constant burden for low-income families.
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I applaud Brother Desalegn Chanie (PhD), from the opposition for telling the members of the parliament that everything about the country is not all hunky-dory. The other member who stood up in ovation and asked the rest of the members to do the same should be viewed from the standpoint that it is his opinion and freedom of expression. It exists in the Western democratic world. In every speech by any president to the joint session of parliament we have seen the speech being interrupted by loud applaud and standing ovation. I’m glad to hear that there is an opposition member in the parliament to vet the governing party’s claim. Such discourse is healthy and should be applauded and encouraged. Right on Brother!
Abiy Ahmed is nervous and panicking because of Tigray. Tigray has sought political solution but military option is on the table. The coming military operation against the regime of Abiy Ahmed will be far reaching and not stop before regime change in Ethiopia. Tigray which has liberated the nations, nationalities and peoples in Ethiopia will not seek any part in the post Abiy Ahmed political arrangement in the country. But will remain the guardian/defender of the liberated and stand in solidarity with them.