Ethiopian general election, 1957

The parliamentary elections in Ethiopia In 1957, the first direct elections to the People's House of Representatives, the lower house of the Ethiopian Parliament dar. It was the first statewide general election in the history Athiopiens, which at that time was still the Empire.

Electoral system

Were elected the 210 members of the national House of Representatives, the lower house of the Ethiopian Parliament, which had been created under the Constitution of the Empire of Ethiopia in 1955. Were entitled to vote all residents over 21 years, people were those deprived of their civil rights and prisoners were denied the right to vote. Was elected by majority vote, the country was divided into constituencies, each 200,000 voters, of which every sent two MPs in Parliament. Cities with at least 30,000 inhabitants formed a special constituency, but these degritted only one delegate for each additional 50,000 residents of the city was another deputy to. Candidates had at least 25 years old, be in possession since the birth of the Ethiopian citizenship, as " right -lance citizens " apply and can have at least 50 eligible voters supporters. In addition, they had to show in the constituency or other property or an income on the value of 2000 Birr land worth 1000 Birr, all other talk of 850 and 1700 Birr. 250 Birr had to be presented as a security deposit to be admitted as a candidate. The number of potential candidates was significantly reduced by this limitation of passive suffrage: 1000 Birr (after damaligem price about 400 U.S. dollars, in today's purchasing power about 3,442 U.S. dollars) corresponded to the monthly salary of a minister of the central government, and the median income was 150 Birr per year.

Electoral process and election results

The elections were spread over several weeks, from 12 September to 10 October. There are on the election results, in part widely differing Information: With a total population of about 20 million about 3.7 million voters were registered, the number of theoretically entitled to vote is with 6 - given 10 million. For the 210 seats were about 500-600 candidates, about 2.5 million - 3,015,206 votes Votes were counted. Parties were not allowed, so that all candidates had to compete as independents.

After the election

Parliament first met on 1 November 1957 to 20 constituencies were at this time still no results. For a true representation of the people, the first elected Parliament not yet developed. The requirements for minimum ownership and the cost of the election campaign, which could amount to several thousand Birr and had to be propped by each candidate alone ensured that the delegates were from the majority of the upper class. Mainly government employees and ( about a quarter) were represented nobility in Parliament, about 15 % - 20 % of the deputies to the monarchy were Muslim. With a monthly salary of the equivalent of U.S. $ 300 ( in today's purchasing power about 2,581 U.S. dollars) they were all very well paid. The political power initially remained in the hands of Emperor Haile Selassie. Over the years, Parliament nevertheless developed into a political power, even if it took more the interests of the various political groups than the people.