Official name

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Form of state

Federal republic

Legal system

The federal constitution was promulgated by the transitional authorities in December 1994; in May 1995 representatives were elected to the institutions of the new republic, which came formally into being in August 1995

National legislature

The Federal Assembly consists of the House of People's Representatives (lower house; 547 members) and the Council of the Federation (upper house; 108 members); the nine regional state councils have limited powers, including that of appointing members of the Council of the Federation

National elections

May 2010 (federal and regional); next elections due in May 2015

Head of state

President-a largely ceremonial role, appointed by the Council of Peoples' Representatives; currently Girma Wolde-Giorgis (appointed October 2001)

National government

The prime minister and his cabinet (Council of Ministers)

Main political parties

The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) won all but two of the seats in parliament in the election in May, 2010; it evolved from the coalition of armed groups that seized power in May 1991; the Tigray People's Liberation Front, the Amhara National Democratic Movement, the Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Movement and the Oromo People's Democratic Organisation; Opposition parties include Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), the United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin (UEDP-Medhin), the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) and the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM)

Prime minister: Meles Zenawi

Deputy prime minister & foreign affairs: Hailemariam Desalegn

Key ministers

Agriculture & rural development: Tefera Deribew

Customs: Melaku Fenta

Key ministers

Education: Demeke Mekonnen

Federal affairs: Shiferaw Teklemariam

Finance & economic development: Sufian Ahmed

Health: Tewodros Adhanom

Justice: Berhanu Hailu

Labour & social affairs: Abdulfata Abdulrahman

Mines: Sinkenesh Ejgu

Science & technology: Desse Balke

Trade: Abdurahman Sheikh Mohamed

Transport & communications: Diriba Kuma

Urban development & construction: Mekuria Haile

Water & energy: Alemayehu Tegenu

Central bank governor

Teklewold Atnafu