Parliament has approved a further MVR 9 million (US$584,000) to the Elections Commission, ahead of presidential elections scheduled for September, reports local media.
EC President Fuad Thaufeeq told parliament’s finance committee that the first round of the election would cost MVR 37 million (US$2.4 million) to hold, with a further MVR 17 million (US$1.1 million) needed in the event of a run-off second round.
The EC had already spent MVR 13.4 million (US$869,000) of the MVR 59 million (US$3.8 million) budget approved by parliament, he said.
The committee approved the EC’s request for a further MVR 9 million, with the EC in return pledging to cut down on costs and use ferry services where possible.
