EC: Additional MVR 30M required if election goes to second round

Elections Commission’s (EC) Chairman Fuad Thaufeeq, on Sunday, has revealed an additional MVR 30 million would be required to the present budget sum if the 2023’s presidential election goes for a second round.

Speaking at the press conference on Sunday to announce the election date – Fuad said that EC roughly estimated a budget of MVR 122 million for the election from which they have only been approved MVR 90 million. Therewith, he said an additional MVR 30 million would be required if the election goes for a second round.

“We roughly estimated a budget of MVR 122 million for the election. However, we only MVR 90 million. If the expenditure matches our estimation, an additional MVR 30 million would be needed,” he said.

Noting that the first round of the election can be carried out without any financial constraints – Fuad said there will be difficulties if a second round is necessary.

He further stated that the expenditure could be reduced if EC is provided access to further state resources. In this regard, he detailed that assistance from Maldives Police Service in travel and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) for setting up tents alongside other resources can possibly lower the cost by MVR 10 million.

Fuad said that if additional funds are required, the state would always make the necessary arrangements. Similarly, he said that if additional funds are required this time around, the state would make the necessary changes. He added that discussions regarding the matter were underway with Finance Ministry, the President’s Office and Parliament’s Public Finance Committee.

EC said that the presidential election 2023 will be held on September 9. He that a second round, if necessary, will be held on September 30.