Term length No term limit | ||
 | ||
Residence Menelik Palace, Addis Ababa Appointer Mulatu Teshome,
as President of Ethiopia Inaugural holder Habte Giyorgis
(Chief Minister)
Makonnen Endelkachew
(Prime Minister) Formation 1909 (Chief Minister)
1943 (Prime Minister) | ||
The Prime Minister of Ethiopia is the head of the Ethiopian government and the most powerful figure in Ethiopian politics. Although the President of Ethiopia is the country's head of state, his powers are largely ceremonial; the Constitution explicitly vests executive power in the Council of Ministers, and names the Prime Minister as chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Menelik Palace is in Addis Ababa. The current prime minister is Hailemariam Desalegn of EPRDF, the eleventh person to hold the position.
Contents
Following an election, the President nominates a member of the House of Peoples' Representatives to become prime minister after asking party leaders whom they support for the position. The nominee then presents a government platform and must receive a vote of confidence in order to become prime minister. In practice, the Prime Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the House of Peoples' Representatives.
Origins and history
The heads of government of Ethiopia have been Chief Ministers (1909–1943), and then Prime Ministers (1943–present). Since 1995 Ethiopia follows a Parliamentary system of government. In parliamentary systems fashioned after the Westminster system, the prime minister is the presiding and actual head of the government and head of the executive branch. In such systems, the head of state or the head of state's official representative (i.e., the monarch or president or governor-general) usually holds a purely ceremonial position.
The prime minister is expected to become a member of House of Peoples' Representatives within six months of beginning their tenure, if they are not a member already. They are expected to work with other ministers to ensure the passage of bills through the legislature.
Role and power of the prime minister
The prime minister leads the functioning and exercise of authority of the Government of Ethiopia. He is invited by the President of Ethiopia in the House of Peoples' Representatives as leader of the majority party to form a government at the federal level and exercise its powers. In practice the prime minister nominates the cabinet ministers. His role is greatly enhanced because he is both de jure and de facto chief executive.
The prime minister is also the commander-in-chief of the Ethiopian National Defense Force.
The prime minister, in consultation with the Cabinet, schedules and attends the sessions of the Houses of Parliament and is required to answer the question from the Members of Parliament to them as the in-charge of the portfolios in the capacity as Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
The prime minister represents the country in various delegations, high level meetings and international organisations that require the attendance of the highest government office.
Security
The bodyguards of the Ethiopian Prime Minister have been seen with the TAR-21 assault rifle.