Bearing in mind that lessons drawn from previous elections necessitate the promulgation of detailed code of conduct for political parties, candidates, members and supporters of political parties to ensure that subsequent elections are guided by ethical rules of conduct and that they are transparent, free, legitimate, fair, peaceful, democratic and acceptable by the people;

Recognizing and accepting the benefit of reinforcing and continuing the role of the people as a source of state authority, its ownership and control thereof for which the Ethiopian peoples have been struggling throughout their long history, and also recognizing the benefit of the implementation of human and democratic rights in their totality in our country to foster a culture of civilized and peaceful struggle and competition;

Recognizing and accepting the benefit of reinforcing and continuing the role of the people as a source of state authority, its ownership and control thereof for which the Ethiopian peoples have been struggling throughout their long history, and also recognizing the benefit of the implementation of human and democratic rights in their totality in our country to foster a culture of civilized and peaceful struggle and competition;

Recognizing that the three organs of government have undertaken to accept the duty and responsibility of being transparent, loyal and accountable and that they made a vow to uphold it in practice themselves and ensure that others do so too; further recognizing that political parties by taking note of this fact should stand for its realization:

Cognizant of the necessity to promote tolerance in a democratic political activity, and of the importance to conduct free political campaign and to promote free public dialogue during the electoral process;

 Realizing the importance of working together on matters where the parties have common stand and to conduct a civilized and peaceful struggle on issues where they differ with firm readiness to accept the process and outcome of a legally conducted election as an expression of the will of the people: cognizant also of the need for political parties to live up to the responsibilities expected of them as regards nation building; and further recognizing the necessity of creating an environment for the political parties to form a healthy relationship which is free from hatred and  mistrust in their competition to attain power,

Underscoring the need to enable political parties to play a vital role in strengthening multi-party system and democratic culture in good faith, tolerance and through the principle of give and take;

Emphasizing the necessity to reiterate that any attempt to stay in power against the will of the people or any local or external activity aimed at taking political power through any means other than those provided by the constitution are not acceptable:

Cognizant of the need to create an environment that would enable the political parties to collectively stand for the implementation of this Code of Conduct Proclamation which contributes to the freedom of the mass media, human rights, democracy, rule of law and the overall development of peoples,

Cognizant of the need to strengthen according to the law, the procedures which ensure fair and impartial utilization by all parties of resources, property under the control of the government and services of organs of administrative bodies which can be of use for   election purposes,

Considering the responsibility of political parties to ensure that every Ethiopian in the exercise of the right to elect and be elected is not impeded by any influence or obstacle;

Cognizant of the responsibility of political parties to conduct successive education and training; create awareness and support others who conduct such education as to this Code of Conduct Proclamation;

Realizing the importance of laying down procedures in accordance with this Proclamation to investigate and subsequently rectify grievances submitted by political parties regarding election officials or their procedures or election or other relevant matters;

Cognizant of the substantial public benefit of laying down procedures for the implementation of this Proclamation as well as for the establishment of Joint council of political parties at all levels and determine their powers and responsibilities:

Convinced of the necessity to promulgate a proclamation after extensive discussions reflecting the internationally well recognized principles in consistent with the objective realities of Ethiopia;

Now, therefore, in accordance with Article 55(1) and sub article (2) (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is hereby proclaimed as follows: