ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The council of Ethiopia's ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), has approved the merger of coalition member parties, state affiliated media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) reported.
It said the EPRDF Council has also approved the governing programs of the newly merged party, which is to be called "Prosperity Party".
FBC further reported the decision to merge the EPRDF aims to use the collective energy of the rebranded EPRDF towards creation of a shared vision for Ethiopia.
In a twitter post on Thursday evening, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed praised the ongoing merger of EPRDF as a step toward realization and strengthening of a true federal system.
"The Prosperity Party is committed to strengthening and applying a true federalist system which recognizes the contributions of all Ethiopians," said Ahmed.
The EPRDF is expected next to call the General Congress, followed by the self-dissolution of the component parties that make up the ruling coalition and finally the registration of the rebranded Prosperity Party (PP) by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia.
PM Abiy Ahmed hopes to bring the Prosperity Party to the national polls expected to be held in May 2020.
