34th Year No. 1
N E G A R I T
D »). ያንዱ
Addis Ababa, 12th September ,
A Z E T
Proclamation No. 1 of 1974
CONTEN T.S.
Provisional Military, Government Establishment Proclamation
CONSIDERING that, although the people of Ethiopia look in good faith, upon the Crown, which has persisted for a long period in Ethiopian history, as a symbol of unity; Haile Selassie I, who has ruled this country for more than fifty years ever since he assumed power as Crown Prince has, not only left the country
also, being over 82 years of age and due to the consequent physi cal and mental exhaustion, is no more able to shoulder the high responsibilities of leadership ;
RECOGNISING that the present system of parliamentary election is undemocratic; that Parliament heretofore has been serving not the people but its members and the ruling and Paris tocratic classes; that as a consequence it has refrained from legis
e country while passing laws at various times intended to raise the living standard of its members, thereby using the high authority con ferred on it by the people to further the personal interests of its
exis.ence is contrary to the motto " Ethiopia Tikdem " ;
The African Law Archive
3631 - A
PROCLAMATION No. 1 OF. 1974.
A PROCLAMATION TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROVISIONAL
Page 1
REALISING that the Constitution of 1955 was prepared to confer on the Emperor absolute powers; that it does not safe guard democratic rights but merely serves as a democratice faca de for the benefits of world public opinion; that it was not con ceived to serve the interests of the Ethiopian people; that it was
above all, it is inconsistent with the popular movements in pro of economic, political and social development; and