Lidetu Ayalew
Encyclopedia
Lidetu Ayalew is an Ethiopia
n politician and the President of the opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin Party
(UEDP-Medhin, also called EDUP-Medhin). He was born in the historical town of Lasta, Lalibela
, Ethiopia - also known as Bugna
woreda
.
and the ruling EPRDF party by matching Meles' rhetoric word-to-word. He organized various demonstrations protesting some of the policies of the government, particularly alongside students. One of his achievements was his organizational role in founding the CUD (Kinijt
) and bringing it to national political dominance. He was the vice chairman of this coalition party until internal issues caused the coalition to break up. The coalition Kinijit party won 109 of the 546 seats in the government, however when Mr. Ayalew's UEDP-Medhin party split from Kinijit, it took some of their seats as well. UEDP-Medhin had won the majority of seats in the Addis Ababa
council at the 2005 elections.
His party is also known for starting a new movement called "the Third Way." While some Ethiopians disapprove this concept, other state that it is a progressive and exemplary political concept.
After the elections, Lidetu authored a book called Yearem Ersha (Amharic, "The weed farm"). In his book, he detailed the foundation of his party, the issues resulting to the breakup of the Kinijit party and the general elections. He also discusses the big gap in the thinking between Ethiopian politicians from the 1970s and early 1980s as compared to politicians from 1990s and 21st century. He concluded that both the old politicians of the ruling party and various opposition parties have been clearly ineffective and inflexible. He stated that no matter how democratic they claimed to be in public, the older groups had the remnants of the old leftist Ethiopian movement as opposed to the 1990s democratic school of thought his party developed.
Lidetu played a leading role in bringing about the limited rights opposition parties enjoyed leading to the 2005 Ethiopian Election.In the days leading to this election, people from the Derg and EPRP era joined Lidetu's opposition strugglethrough the formation of CUD. After the relatively free votes in Ethiopia (especially in the capital Addis Ababa)election results started to show in favour of the opposition group CUD. The power hungry Derg and EPRP era poiliticians couldn't resist the temptation to outmaneuver Lidetu to power. This resulted in a fallout between Lidetu and other opposition leaders such as Berhanu Nega. Lidetu's political reputation was seriously damaged through romours circulatd by his opponents during this power struggle.
After joining the Federal Parliament
while his former-CUD colleagues were jailed for serious charges, Lidetu’s political image in Ethiopia suffered fuurther blow. His popularity plummeted significantly in the aftermath of the elections.
in the country. EUDP stressed that people living in the urban centers are suffering from rise of inflation and can't afford to pay house rent, utility bills etc. Even though the government has intervened, Lidetu said it is not working so far and there should be a salary increase until a "sustainable solution".
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n politician and the President of the opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin Party
United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin Party
The Ethiopian Democratic Party is a political party in Ethiopia.At the last legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party was part of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy , that won 109 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's Representatives. However, in October 2005 the party central...
(UEDP-Medhin, also called EDUP-Medhin). He was born in the historical town of Lasta, Lalibela
Lalibela
Lalibela is a town in northern Ethiopia, known for its monolithic churches. Lalibela is one of Ethiopia's holiest cities, second only to Aksum, and is a center of pilgrimage for much of the country. Unlike Aksum, the population of Lalibela is almost completely Ethiopian Orthodox Christian...
, Ethiopia - also known as Bugna
Bugna
Bugna is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the former district. Located in the northwest corner of the Semien Wollo Zone, Bugna is bordered on the south by Meket, on the west by the Debub Gondar Zone, on the north by the Wag Hemra Zone, and on the...
woreda
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
.
Life
Lidetu came from a modest background, working in NGOs but later to owning a profitable auto import business. Mr. Lidetu rose to political prominence by forming the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP) in 1992 with an initial membership of 120 men and women. He was the secretary General of the EDP until he led the forming of a new coalition called UEDP, which later join Medhin and became UEDP-Medhin. Over the years, he has been a thorn on the side of PM Meles ZenawiMeles Zenawi
Meles Zenawi Asres is the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Since 1985, he has been chairman of the Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front , and is currently head of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front .Meles was born in Adwa, Tigray in Northern Ethiopia, to an Ethiopian father from...
and the ruling EPRDF party by matching Meles' rhetoric word-to-word. He organized various demonstrations protesting some of the policies of the government, particularly alongside students. One of his achievements was his organizational role in founding the CUD (Kinijt
Coalition for Unity and Democracy
The Coalition for Unity and Democracy is a coalition of four existing political parties of Ethiopia which combined to compete for seats in the Ethiopian General Elections held on May 15, 2005. Its leader is Dr...
) and bringing it to national political dominance. He was the vice chairman of this coalition party until internal issues caused the coalition to break up. The coalition Kinijit party won 109 of the 546 seats in the government, however when Mr. Ayalew's UEDP-Medhin party split from Kinijit, it took some of their seats as well. UEDP-Medhin had won the majority of seats in the Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
council at the 2005 elections.
His party is also known for starting a new movement called "the Third Way." While some Ethiopians disapprove this concept, other state that it is a progressive and exemplary political concept.
After the elections, Lidetu authored a book called Yearem Ersha (Amharic, "The weed farm"). In his book, he detailed the foundation of his party, the issues resulting to the breakup of the Kinijit party and the general elections. He also discusses the big gap in the thinking between Ethiopian politicians from the 1970s and early 1980s as compared to politicians from 1990s and 21st century. He concluded that both the old politicians of the ruling party and various opposition parties have been clearly ineffective and inflexible. He stated that no matter how democratic they claimed to be in public, the older groups had the remnants of the old leftist Ethiopian movement as opposed to the 1990s democratic school of thought his party developed.
Lidetu played a leading role in bringing about the limited rights opposition parties enjoyed leading to the 2005 Ethiopian Election.In the days leading to this election, people from the Derg and EPRP era joined Lidetu's opposition strugglethrough the formation of CUD. After the relatively free votes in Ethiopia (especially in the capital Addis Ababa)election results started to show in favour of the opposition group CUD. The power hungry Derg and EPRP era poiliticians couldn't resist the temptation to outmaneuver Lidetu to power. This resulted in a fallout between Lidetu and other opposition leaders such as Berhanu Nega. Lidetu's political reputation was seriously damaged through romours circulatd by his opponents during this power struggle.
After joining the Federal Parliament
Federal Parliamentary Assembly
The Parliament of Ethiopia consists of two chambers:*The House of Federation *The House of People's Representatives...
while his former-CUD colleagues were jailed for serious charges, Lidetu’s political image in Ethiopia suffered fuurther blow. His popularity plummeted significantly in the aftermath of the elections.
Inflation
One of the most important issues Lidetu Ayalew's party has addressed since 2006 was the inflationInflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
in the country. EUDP stressed that people living in the urban centers are suffering from rise of inflation and can't afford to pay house rent, utility bills etc. Even though the government has intervened, Lidetu said it is not working so far and there should be a salary increase until a "sustainable solution".