EPRDF elects Hailemariam Desalegn for Deputy Chairperson Position

The Ethiopian people’s Revolutionary Democratic Party (EPRDF) today elected Hailemariam Desalegn as Deputy Chairperson and rubberstamp its longest serving Chairperson, Prime Minster Meles Zenawi, to stay on its position.
Hailemariam’s appointment came after the resignation of former Deputy Chairperson and Deputy Prime Minister, Addisu Legese. The resignation and the election held on the ongoing eighth Organizational Congress of the party in Adama (Nazreth).
On the three days long congress, EPRDF expected to elect executive committee, central committee and audit and control commission members. The elected members will stay in their positions for the coming two years.

Addisu seems the main visible victim of EPRDF’s plan to replace its top brass by new faces. During the last cabinet reshuffle, he lost his ministerial position of leading the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD).
His party, Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM) also removed him from its top position of chairmanship and replaced him by the current Minster of education Demeke Mekonnen. Unconfirmed reports also showed that he will lose his position of Deputy Prime Minster in the coming cabinet reshuffle.