00:00Ethiopia's National Dialogue has backed a proposal to replace the country's current parliamentary system with an executive presidency.
00:08A move critics won could further consolidate power around Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
00:13The month-long conference brought together around 4,000 delegates and concluded on August 22nd.
00:19The proposal would merge the largely ceremonial presidency with the office of Prime Minister into a single executive presidency.
00:27It could be presented to Parliament when lawmakers return in October.
00:32Supporters say the change could create a more unified political system,
00:36while the dialogue also recommended reducing support for ethnic-based parties in favor of national political organizations.
00:44But critics say the process could strengthen Abiy's grip on power, especially after his party secured another strong election victory
00:52in June.
00:53The dialogue was intended to address Ethiopia's deep ethnic and political divisions,
00:58but several opposition parties boycotted it while armed groups were excluded.
01:03The recommendations now move the debate to Parliament,
01:06where Ethiopia could face one of its most significant changes to executive power in decades.
