Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party has claimed a landslide election victory, winning 410 of the 469 parliamentary seats up for grabs. The outcome, announced by the National Electoral Board, has been met with deep unease in a country still scarred by the brutal two-year conflict in Tigray. Opposition leaders and international observers have questioned the credibility of the results, citing reports of voter intimidation, logistical failures, and widespread irregularities.
For ordinary Ethiopians, the triumph of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s party is a bitter pill. The cost of living has surged, with inflation eroding wages and the price of staples like teff and maize rising by more than 30% this year. In the regions, especially Amhara and Oromia, the spectre of further violence looms.
Armed groups opposed to the government have stepped up attacks, and the federal army has been accused of clamping down on dissent. One farmer in the Amhara region, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said: “They call it a victory, but for us it is a defeat. We want peace and a chance to feed our families.
This result means more soldiers, more checkpoints, more fear.” The election was the first since the civil war that killed an estimated 600,000 people and displaced millions. Many in Tigray boycotted the poll, and the region remains under a federal-appointed interim administration.
The international community has urged restraint, but warnings of a fresh cycle of conflict are hard to ignore. For the working class, the real economy does not wait for ballots. The question now is whether Abiy’s government will use its mandate to stabilise prices and rebuild shattered communities or tighten its grip on power.
The price of bread tells the story better than any vote count.