| Abstract: | The FDRE Constitution acknowledges the right to freedom of political party
membership. Similarly, the Political Parties Registration Proclamation, which
regulates the details of political party membership, allows a political party
member to withdraw from his/her membership at any time. The form of
withdrawal, however, has become contentious. In Unity for Justice and
Democracy Party -versus- Blue Party (a case finally adjudicated by the
Cassation Bench of the Federal Supreme Court), the petitioner, claimed that a
person cannot be member of another political party without a written
withdrawal notice to his/her former political party. The respondent political
party, on its part, argued that withdrawal from membership and taking
membership in another political party is possible at any time. The points of
controversy and the legal framework thereof are examined in this article. An
attempt is made to assess relevant principles, international human rights
instruments and the experience of other jurisdictions. |
