Ethiopia’s parliament approved an extra year in office for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed after August elections were postponed due to coronavirus pandemic. The decision was taken two days after a leading opposition politician resigned as speaker of its upper house in apparent protest at the delay.
The upper house voted for a resolution that extends the terms of federal and regional lawmakers and the executive branch of the government for between nine and 12 months, House spokesman Gebru Gebreslassie annnounced.
The elections will tale place within that period, once health authorities determine that the coronavirus is nolonger a threat to public health, Gebru Gebreslassie added.
Ethiopia had recorded a total of 2,336 cases of COVID-19 and 32 deaths by 10 June.
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