Ethiopia’s 2026 election: parties, coalitions and candidates overview

Ethiopians will head to the polls on Monday, May 31, to elect members of the federal parliament and regional councils, a process that will ultimately decide the next prime minister [1]. The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) reports that more than 50 million citizens—about half women and a large youth majority—are registered to vote in what is the country’s regular parliamentary cycle under the 1995 constitution [1].

Key takeaways

• 47 political parties and 73 independents are contesting 10,900+ seats across federal and regional bodies [1].
• The ruling Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, fields candidates nationwide and holds a parliamentary majority from the 2021 election [1].
• Regional parties such as the National Movement of Amhara and the Peace for Ethiopia coalition focus on local rights and coordinate candidate lists within their states [1].
• Women make up roughly half of the registered electorate, and female candidates are running in multiple regions [1].
• The elected House of Peoples’ Representatives will select the prime minister, shaping Ethiopia’s federal‑regional power balance [2].

Party landscape and coalition dynamics

The Prosperity Party (PP) dominates the national scene after its 2019 merger of former EPRDF regional parties and retains a majority in the House of Peoples’ Representatives following the 2021 vote [1]. Its platform stresses national unity, economic reform and state‑led development within Ethiopia’s federal system. Across almost all constituencies, PP candidates are contesting seats in both the federal parliament and regional councils [1].

Regional actors add depth to the contest. The National Movement of Amhara (NAMA), led by Belete Molla, concentrates on Amhara‑region interests, fielding candidates for federal and regional seats primarily within that region [1]. The Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA), headed by Berhanu Nega, presents a liberal democratic agenda and runs candidates across multiple regions [1]. Meanwhile, the Peace for Ethiopia coalition unites smaller parties—including the Agew National Council and Gamo Democratic Party—to coordinate lists while preserving distinct regional identities [1]. Independent candidates, numbering 73, focus on local governance issues rather than national party platforms [1].

Electoral framework and voter demographics

Ethiopia’s federal parliamentary system elects a single‑chamber House of Peoples’ Representatives with up to 550 members, currently about 547, serving five‑year terms in single‑seat constituencies [2]. Voters aged 18 and above cast ballots in constituency‑based contests for both federal and regional councils, overseen by NEBE, which manages voter registration, polling logistics and ballot administration nationwide [1]. The electorate is notably young, with a median age of roughly 19 years, and gender‑balanced, as women constitute about half of registered voters [1]. These demographics underscore a potentially transformative election, given the sizable youth and female participation.

Why it matters

The composition of the House of Peoples’ Representatives will determine Ethiopia’s legislative direction and the selection of the prime minister, influencing the balance of power between the federal government and Ethiopia’s ethnically based regional states [2]. With the Prosperity Party seeking to maintain its dominance amid a crowded field of opposition and regional parties, the election outcomes could reshape policy priorities, especially concerning economic reforms and regional autonomy. Observers will watch the results for signs of political stability or shifts in Ethiopia’s federal dynamics as the country navigates its constitutional framework and demographic changes.