Ethiopia's National Electoral Board (NEBE) announced on June 5, 2026, that the Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, won 352 of the 400 contested parliamentary seats in the general election held on June 1. The result gives the ruling party a commanding majority to form the next government.
Voting was suspended in 47 constituencies in Oromia and 23 in Amhara due to security disruptions, according to NEBE. Tigray was excluded from the ballot entirely. The incomplete voting in two of Ethiopia's most populous regions has raised questions about the election's representativeness and could fuel ongoing political tensions.
Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen has not been publicly positioned by the Prosperity Party as a successor to Abiy Ahmed. Official final certified results from NEBE have not yet been published, and the party has not formally announced its choice for prime minister. The next prime minister is determined by the parliamentary majority.
The Prosperity Party's landslide victory suggests Abiy Ahmed is likely to remain prime minister. The slim market probability for Demeke Mekonnen reflects the lack of any public indication of a succession plan or leadership change.
