President of Ethiopia

President of Ethiopia
Name in national languages Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ፕሬዝዳንት Ye-Ītyōṗṗyā pirēzidanit Oromo: Pireezidaantiin Itiyoophiyaa Somali: Madaxweynaha Itoobiya Tigrinya: ፕረዚደንት ኢትዮጵያ prezident Ítiyop'iya Afar: Itiyoppiya Pirezdant
Emblem
Flag of Ethiopia
Incumbent Sahle-Work Zewde since 25 October 2018
Residence	National Palace, Addis Ababa
Term length	Six years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	Mengistu Haile Mariam (communist constitution) Meles Zenawi (current constitution)
Formation	10 September 1987
Deputy	abolished, Vice President of Ethiopia
Salary	45,270 USD annually
Website	www.thepresidency.gov.et/eng/

The president of Ethiopia is the head of state of Ethiopia. The position is largely a ceremonial one, with executive power vested in the prime minister. The current president is Sahle-Work Zewde, who took office on 25 October 2018. Presidents are elected by the House of Peoples' Representatives for six years, with a two term limit.

History

The role of President of Ethiopia had evolved and changed though political transformation of Ethiopia. Before 1974 revolution the role of the head of state was under The Emperor of Ethiopia. Following the 1974 Ethiopian military coup and abolishment of the monarchy the role of head of state of Ethiopia served by Chairman of the Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia who served as defacto President of Ethiopia. The first Chairman of Provisional Military Government was Lieutenant General Aman Andom who was also Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian Military.

The Presidency was officially created by the 1987 Constitution, which established the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The president was elected to a five-year term by the National Shengo (legislature), with no term limits. The Presidency was vested with sweeping executive powers. For instance, when the Shengo was out of session–in practice, for most of the year–he had the right to appoint and dismiss a number of state officers. Although such acts had to be confirmed by the Shengo at its next session, in practice the principles of democratic centralism made such confirmation merely a formality. The President was also Chairman of the Council of State, which acted for the Shengo when it was out of session. He also had the power to rule by decree if necessary. The only president under 1987 Constitution was Mengistu Haile-Mariam from 1987- may 1991. Following President Mengistu Haile-Mariam flee into exile Tesfaye Gebre Kidan served as acting President of Ethiopia for one week.

Following the end of the Ethiopian Civil War and suspension of People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia constitution a Transitional Government of Ethiopia was formed. Under the Transitional Government of Ethiopia Ethiopia was Semi-presidential system with the president as head of state and Prime Minister as head of the government. The Presidency had a sweeping executive powers under Transitional Government of Ethiopia provisional constitution. The only president of Transitional Government of Ethiopia was Meles Zenawi.

The draft of a new constitution was declared in 1995 known as 1995 Constitution of Ethiopia. The 1995 Constitution of Ethiopia transform Ethiopia in a parliamentary system which effectively made the presidency a ceremonial and apolitical head of state office. The first president of under the 1995 Constitution of Ethiopia was Negasso Gidada who served from 1995- 2001. The current President is Sahle-Work Zewde since 2018.

Election

The House of Peoples' Representatives nominates the candidate for president. The office falls vacant upon completion of a term or resignation. Presidential tenure is not keyed to that of the House of Peoples' Representatives in order to assure continuity in government and the nonpartisan character of the office. There is no vice president in the Ethiopia governmental system.

The president is elected in a joint session of the House of Peoples' Representatives and the House of the Federation by a two-thirds majority.

Upon being elected, the President, before commencing his or her responsibilities, shall swear before a joint session of the Houses the oath: "I....., when on this date commence my responsibility as President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, pledge to carry out faithfully the high responsibility entrusted to me."

Powers and duties

The 1995 Ethiopian Constitution lays out the duties and powers of the president of the Republic, to include:

1. In foreign affairs:
   • Accrediting and receiving diplomatic functionaries;
   • Ratifying international treaties, upon authorization of the House of Peoples' Representatives;
2. In parliamentary affairs:
   • Opening the joint session of the House of Peoples' Representatives and the House of the Federation at the commencement of their annual sessions.
3. In legislative matters:
   • Promulgating the laws approved by the House of Peoples' Representatives;
4. In executive matters and as to official protocol:
   • Naming ambassadors and other envoys;
   • Awarding medals, prizes, and gifts;
   • Granting high military titles;
5. In judicial matters:
   • Granting pardons and commutations.

Unlike most parliamentary republics, the president of Ethiopia is not even the nominal chief executive. Rather, the Constitution explicitly vests executive power in the Council of Ministers, and names the Prime Minister as chief executive. Many of the president's powers are duties that they must perform, while most of the others must be countersigned by the Prime Minister to be valid. However, pardons and commutations have been recognized as autonomous powers of the president.

Succession

"Proclamation No. 255/2001: Administration of the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia" states that when the president, before the termination of his/her term of office, discontinues his/her service due to illness, death, resignation or due to his/her conviction, the House of Peoples' Representatives and the House of Federation, by an extraordinary joint session convened by the Speaker of either of the Houses or by the Speakers of both houses jointly, designate an acting president.

Former Presidents

As of 2022, there are two living former presidents: Mengistu Haile Mariam and Mulatu Teshome.

• 
  Mengistu Haile Mariam
  (1984–1991)
  (1937-05-21) 21 May 1937
• 
  Mulatu Teshome
  (2013–2018)
  (1957-04-24) 24 April 1957

Latest election

Main article: 2018 Ethiopian presidential election

See also

• Emperor of Ethiopia
  • List of emperors of Ethiopia
• List of presidents of Ethiopia
• List of heads of government of Ethiopia
• Rulers of Ethiopia
• Vice President of Ethiopia