If Ethiopia’s Meles leaves office, he will get to keep his:

May 25th, 2009 | EthioPolitics.com |

- current salary and allowance indefinitely
- staffed house, office, and three high standard cars
- security personnel and VIP service

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Capital

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is saying that he wants to leave office at the next general election.

How will he live after that?

The answer is here. For the first time in the nation’s history, the bill tabled before parliament last Thursday, details rights and benefits for former Government officials, including the Prime Minister, giving hope some MPs that a peaceful power transfer can actually happen.

Putting the president, the prime minister and deputy prime minister in the first top category, the new legislation proposes that all three to keep their salaries and allowances even after they leave office. Not only do they get to keep them, but it will increase whenever adjustments are made for their serving successors.

The three former senior officials and their family will get a four to five bedroom residential house, first class local and if necessary overseas medical services and three high standard transport vehicles at the expense of the Government.

Security services, whose size will be decided by the implementing agency, full protocol service with diplomatic passport and VIP service will be provided for the departing officials.

Two fixed lines at the residence and one mobile telephone for personal communication are also among the benefits promised for them.

In addition to these benefits, if the officials decide to engage in public services, they shall be provided with an office in their city of residence and Government paid secretaries and experts at their disposal. The office will be supported with computers, internet, and postal service, all at the taxpayers’ expense. However, all these benefits - which will be stripped in the event of criminal charges-, will be removed if the former president becomes a member of a political party or organisation.

The existing legislation, the Administration of the President of the Federal Republic Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Proclamation, had similar provisions, but currently the only independent member of Parliament, who is also the former president, Dr. Negasso Gidada says the new legislation is unconstitutional: “The existing proclamation says the president should remain unpartisan to keep benefits, article 55/1 of the new legislation defines that by saying former presidents lose benefits if then become a member of a political party,” Dr. Negasso explained to Capital, adding that if passed the law would prevent former presidents from enjoying constitutional rights guaranteed to all, such as the right to association.

“Why don’t we see the practice of other countries like the case of the Germany where the president in office will suspend any political party membership, but upon leaving can rejoin his party, or form any other party?,” the former President asked.

Dr. Negasso also offered a new approach for what he sees as the target of the new law: “If you want to limit the influence of former presidents in politics when you elect them in the first place select a senior law professor or veteran politician [like the current president] so that they will willingly retire from politics when they leave office.”

The new legislation also details various benefits and rights for other Government officials including ministers, state ministers, speakers, MPs, and judges.

Parliament sent the bill without any protest - there was no opposition and only three abstentions - to the standing committees. However some MPs want the benefits for MPs to be amended and include residential house benefit or at least a plot for them to build their own homes.