1. What is your general impression about the upcoming elections? Are you following the event with interest or casually?

Bahir Dar

I. I am following the events with interest, Ato Alemayehu Dejene, Male, Age: 26, Work: Ministry of Defense, Education: 12+4, Have you taken election card: Yes, Address: Bahir Dar.

II. No I don’t follow at all, Ato Teha Sherif, Engineering Student of Bahir Dar University, from Oromia, Male, Age: 24, Work: Student, Education: 12+4, Have you taken election card: Yes, Bahir Dar.

III. I am following it casually. Ato Abera Shimelis, Male, Age: 50, Work: Driver/former Air force technician, Education: 12+2, Have you taken election card: Yes, Bahir Dar.

IV. I used to follow the events, but this time I lost interest because of the Cadres. They are pushing as to take election cards and choose with out our interest. By the way election is hard in small cities. I have been in Bahirdar, Debre Markos and the situation is quite different from here. Ato Alelingwork Dejene, Male, Age: 23, Work: Broker, Education: 10, Have you taken election card: Yes, Address: Tilili, Agew.

Debre Markos

V. Good. I am interested to listen and know about election events, Ato Daniel Melaku, Male, Age: 27, Education: 12 + 2, Research Assistant, Addis Ababa.

VI. The election is good for change as many parties are participating. I follow it occasionally. W/t Marta Belay, Female, Age: 20, Education: 12 + Certificate, Secretary, Debre Markos.

VII. Good, interested on events, Ato Yersaw Mekasha, Male, Age: 24, Education: 10, Unemployed, Debre Markos.

VIII. I am not following events, as I have no time, W/t Tigist Bekele, Female, Age: 19, Education: 12, Work: Office Assistant, Debre Markos.

IX. I think there is better democracy today. Yes, I follow the election. I am a candidate. Ato Yoseph Yakob Lemma, Male, Age: 70, Education: 12+1, Work: Retired Teacher, Private Candidate, Debre Markos.

X. I wish any one who have no gun to win the election so that democracy will truly establish in the country, Ato Getachew Hibstew, Male, Age: 35, Education: 12, Work: Unemployed, Private Candidate, Debre Markos.

Oromia

XI. There is no electricity in my village. I have no Radio and TV. How could I know about the election except from the Kebeles? We usually elect what we are told to do so. Any way this year situation is better than before. Ato Bogale, Male, 27, Work: Farmer, Education: 5^th grade, Have you taken election card: Yes, Address: Wellenchi a small town between Ambo and Welliso.

XII. It looks good. I follow it sometimes. Ato Gemeda, Male, Age: 35, Work: “Yefela Buna Azuari”, Education: No, Have you taken election card: Yes, Nekemitee, Welega.

XIII. No, I don’t. It is better to look for my daily bread than following the events. Ato Fasil, Male, Age: 27, Work: Driver aid, Education: 12, Have you taken election card: Yes, Nekemitee, Welega.

XIV. I am not interested to answer such questions. Ato Nesro, Male, Age: 40, Work: ‘Chat’ Vendor, Education: No, Have you taken election card: Yes, Welliso.

2. Which political personalities or parties have impressed you with their agenda and vision for Ethiopia?

I. CUD (Coalition for Unity and Democracy). Ato Alemayehu Dejene.

II. Amarache Hailoch. Ato Teha Sherif.

III. EPRDF, “Kemayawkut melak yemiyawkut seytan yeshalal”. Ato Abera Shimelis.

IV. None. I don’t take any of them seriously. Ato Alelingwork Dejene.

V. Amarach Hailoch. Ato Daniel Melaku.

VI. Alternative Forces / Yamarch hayloch/ Dr. Beyene. W/t Marta Belay.

VII. Difficult to know. Ato Yersaw Mekasha.

VIII. I don’t know them. W/t Tigist Bekele.

IX. I do not like any of them. Ato Yoseph Yakob Lemma.

X. I wish any one who has no gun to win the election so that democracy will truly establish in the country. Ato Getachew Hibstew.

XI. I don’t know. I am still deciding whom to support. Ato Bogale.

XII. None of them. Ato Gemeda.

XIII. I am not interested such questions (end of interview). Ato Fasil.

XIV. No answer. Ato Nesro.

3. Do you think EPRDF has been good for the country? Some people say that EPRDF has improved Addis Ababa with the new modern

International airport, ring road, Sheraton Hotel and the numerous new buildings, and the improved roads outside Addis Ababa. Their

critics say that these are superficial. What do you think?

I. To some extent yes but it sounds for superficial reasons. Ato Alemayehu Dejene.

II. EPRDF has been fairly good. Ato Teha Sherif.

III. Yes, EPRDF was good but not perfect. Ato Abera Shimelis.

IV. No, EPRDF has not been good. Ato Alelingwork Dejene.

V. EPRDF is preferred compared to Dergue. Ato Daniel Melaku.

VI. EPRDF was good in the past especially in education and democracy. W/t Marta Belay.

VII. It is much better than Dergue. But the education policy is worse. Ato Yersaw Mekasha.

VIII. EPRDF is bad, because the education system puts money out of education. It also stops many people at grade 8. W/t Tigist Bekele.

IX. EPRDF is good, but it did not materialize many of its promises made when it was in the bushes. Ato Yoseph Yakob Lemma.

X. No. It is not because of EPRDF but it is brought about as a result of the normal process of life. Ato Getachew Hibstew.

XI. Yes, above all in the last few years there were no war, no blood-shade. Even in the time of war, it wasn’t by obligation. With this I am really happy. Ato Bogale.

XII. No comment. Ato Gemeda.

XIII. No Response - Ato Fasil

XIV. Yes but there are many problems. Tax on ‘chat’ is too much; it’s like cutting our nose to eat. We pay five birr for every Tikele. Still, we don’t know if the next government (whoever it is) may ask 10 Birr. So we prefer this one. Ato Nesro.

4. Among the ministers and political appointees in Prime Minister Meles’ cabinet, who is – in your opinion - most respected (least

disliked)? Who do you think is least liked?

I. The foreign minister and deputy prime minister respectively. Ato Alemayehu Dejene.

II. I don’t want to comment. Ato Teha Sherif.

III. Arkebe and Seyum Mesfin. Disliked Genet Zewdie. Ato Abera Shimelis.

IV. I don’t want to comment on this. Ato Alelingwork Dejene.

V. Respected Arkebe; Less respected Bereket Simon. Ato Daniel Melaku.

VI. I don’t want to tell. W/t Marta Belay.

VII. I don’t know. Ato Yersaw Mekasha.

VIII. No comment. W/t Tigist Bekele.

IX. I will leave this for the parliament. Ato Yoseph Yakob Lemma.

X. Respected (if he was not working for EPRDF) Girma Biru. Worst Genet Zewdie, Bereket Simon, and Tefera Walwa. Ato Getachew Hibstew.

XI. No Comment. Ato Bogale

XII. No comment. Ato Gemeda.

XIII. No Response. Ato Fasil.

XIV. No Comment. Ato Nesro.

5. In this election, what issues are important for you personally and your family? (The economic condition, democratic rights,

employment, peace and stability, others?) How about for the whole country? (The Eritrea question, famine/drought, the economy, AIDS/HIV,

poverty, ethnic relationships, land tenure, environment pollution, population growth, etc?)

I. Democratic right and land tenure are the major ones. Ato Alemayehu Dejene.

II. Since I don’t follow, I couldn’t say anything. Ato Teha Sherif.

III. The Economy and Issue of Eritrea. Ato Abera Shimelis.

IV. No comment. Ato Alelingwork Dejene.

V. The economic condition of the country. Ato Daniel Melaku.

VI. I am not sure. W/t Marta Belay.

VII. Job security especially for the youth and the Economy. Ato Yersaw Mekasha.

VIII. I don’t know. W/t Tigist Bekele.

IX. No comment. Ato Yoseph Yakob Lemma.

X. Democracy. Ato Getachew Hibstew.

XI. No Response. Ato Bogale.

XII. I don’t follow the programs as such seriously. Ato Gemeda.

XIII. No Response. Ato Fasil.

XIV. The Economy. Ato Nesro

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