The second is whether federal states can declare regionwide states of emergency to combat what is potentially a nationwide pandemic. Arguably, the regional emergency decree was another political display of autonomy. COVID-19 state of emergency and the federal balance of power The federal executive’s approach to the state of emergency to tackle COVID-19 appears to shift power to the center and away from regional states. In addition, most regional powers under the federal constitution can be suspended under a federal emergency decree, other than self-determination. Also, the normal understanding of the equivalency of federal and regional laws does not apply under a federal state of emergency.

Source: Ethiopian News April 17, 2020 17:15 UTC