Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር |
|
---|---|
Coat of Arms
|
|
Residence | Menelik Palace, Addis Ababa |
Appointer |
Mulatu Teshome, as President of Ethiopia |
Term length | No term limit |
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.
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.
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.